Revolutionary scheme gets off ground to beat Whitecrook aircraft noise

Councillors approved the plan for a partnership with Glasgow Airport ahead of spending potentially £1million on upgrades to hundreds of homes under the flightpath.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s housing and communities committee last week was told £96,000 would be taken from the housing budget to help pay for the work.

But campaigners and Labour councillors expressed concern that any tenant or taxpayer money would be spent on an issue that is the responsibility of the airport and airlines.

Clydebank Waterfront and SNP councillor Marie McNair said she welcomed the initiative but was “disappointed”.

She told the committee: “I don’t think we should be funding 50 per cent of this. It’s an issue that’s affected the whole of Whitecrook. I would really rather it was fully funded by the airport.”

The airport’s noise action plan will target improvements in homes falling in a supposedly 63dB contour.

But persistent questions have been raised about the accuracy of their noise contour map. They have been repeatedly asked for a detailed map of which homes they claim would fall into the 63dB contour area but have yet to do so.

Cllr McNair asked again for a detailed map in the meeting but was told there was none.

John Kerr, housing development and homelessness manager for the council, said they had no statutory obligation to contribute to this pilot scheme, but a “moral obligation to tenants”.

The Post revealed earlier this year that a noise assessment as far away as Queens Quay found levels of 61dB, far higher than what the airport says should be there.

Council officials will ensure some of the 12 council properties in the pilot will be outwith the supposed 63dB zone.

Labour’s Waterfront Councillor, Gail Casey, told the committee the trial was a good idea but that Glasgow Airport should be paying for it.

She was also concerned about a lack of consultation or any notice to ward councillors prior to the committee papers.

Mr Kerr said Whitecrook homes meet the current Scottish Housing Quality Standards (SHQS) but those don’t address localised issues with aircraft noise.

Council leader Jonathan McColl said they needed to do something and the decision to work with the airport was a positive one.

He said: “We will have our people on the ground, with two sets of noise results that people can compare.”

Cllr McColl added that Westminster could produce legislation to lower the maximum noise threshold to 60dB, and the council’s pilot would prepare for that possibility.

But Councillor David McBride said he was “uncomfortable” about spending housing money when there had been no consultation with tenants and residents.

He said: “Glasgow Airport is a noise maker and has to do something about it.”

Cllr McBride asked for the decision on a pilot scheme to be delayed until the next meeting for consultation with tenants and with Clydebank Housing Association and that the Scottish Government should be asked for money.

In response, Cllr McColl slammed Labour for doing nothing about the issue for decades and called for a by-election.

He said: “Tenants have been crying out for something to be done, and at last someone’s listening to them.

“This SNP administration today is taking positive action to address this long-running issue.

“If Labour vote against this today, then local members for the affected area should be incredibly embarrassed and, frankly, should be considering their position.

“Let’s have a by-election and decide if they want action from the SNP or more dithering from Labour.”

The SNP voted for the project and Labour and Tory councillor Sally Page voted to continue consideration.

Speaking after the decision, Gil Paterson MSP, who has taken up the issue from campaigners and pushed the airport for action, told the Post he was “delighted”.

He said: “Based on my own research, I am confident that major and massive improvement is possible. This scheme will not only herald significant improvement to the health and well-being of the residents of Clydebank, who have been patient for so long, but will benefit everyone living under the flightpaths of all major airports in Scotland.

“I am grateful to all those who are involved in this revolutionary scheme – this is an initiative that has never happened anywhere else, in tackling these very difficult issues.

“I want to give particular credit to two community stalwarts, Joe Henry and Tam Brady, who have been working almost daily for 12 years and more on this matter. Their dedication and sticking to the task has been remarkable and commendable and have been at my side every step of the way.

“All the hard work and determination has brought us to this point where real progress is being made for the benefit of the people of Whitecrook and the wider community.”