WHITECROOK residents vowed they would no longer stand for the threats to their health from aircraft noise.

Nearly 90 people turned out to a public meeting last week to voice their concerns about the persistent disruption, particularly overnight flights from Glasgow Airport.

While planes overhead interrupted speakers every few minutes, campaigners said there should be a curfew on night flights after 11pm and compensation to pay for triple glazed windows and noise insulation.

MSP Gil Paterson explained a test home in the area saw a dramatic reduction in noise levels from such improvements and that the airport now accepted noise was high in Whitecrook.

Pat Hoey, West Dunbartonshire Council’s service coordinator for environmental pollution and environmental health told residents: “I can tell you, it’s at levels that’s affecting your health.”

The meeting was told a noise contour map for the area has recently changed and the area most affected, according to the airport, now reaches just outside Centre81, where the event was held.

All properties along a line south of that would, potentially, be eligible for noise reduction - anywhere from 240 to 500 properties. It is unclear from the map how wide that contour stretches.

Noise levels are calculated based on a 16-hour average during the summer, with 63dBA the level at which homes could get reduction.

But the World Health Organisation states anything above 50dBA affects your health, said Mr Paterson.

Community councillor Joe Henry said: “It’s disrupting people’s sleep, stopping opening windows. We are asking for curfews of 11pm to 6 or 7am.

"We have been constantly bombarding the airport and they have been ignoring us. There’s a lot of people affected by this.”

Mr Paterson said recent developments were positive.

He said: “All the letters and chats and meetings, I think the airport did commit themselves. If you get the airport to accept that they are going to do something on a voluntary basis, then that’s a door open.

“We have got the airport to take responsibility. I’m delighted after all this work that they have accepted this.”

Campaigner Tam Brady argued the 63dBA contour should actually be 66dBA and that would mean homes for compensation would stretch into Linnvale, Drumry and towards Bearsden.

He added they were looking into whether they could launch a legal challenge over the noise pollution.

Residents raised concerns about disruption particularly in summer and from Emirates flights.

One resident of East Barns Street said: “I think we you’re doing is a brilliant amount of community work. I’ve been deafened by these [planes] and I’m costing the NHS a fortune in batteries [for hearing aids] and blood pressure tablets.

“A message should go out from this meeting that we’re not going to stand for it.

“We don’t we make this a health issue? We need a battering ram for these people over at the airport. Just stand up against them - we can do it.”

Glasgow Airport held a drop-in session for their current 13-week noise action plan at Clydebank Town Hall on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: “It was always our intention to arrange a drop-in session in Clydebank and we did so in liaison with Gil Paterson. We also informed Tam and Joe of our plans well before the consultation was launched. We opted for Clydebank Town Hall as it opens it up to the wider community.

“As part of the draft noise action plan we’re proposing to introduce a noise insulation scheme for properties within the 63 dB LAeq, 16hR contour area.”