AIR traffic control regulation changes could pave the way for reduced noise over Knutsford through a newly-formed town council working group.

The group, formed off the back of proposed increased dual runway operation and including Cllrs Tony Dean, James Power and Julian Goodrich, plans to work with Manchester Airport ‘to the benefit of the people of Knutsford’.

It is hoped that increased pressure on the airport will help the town benefit from technological advances and night flight planning, with both runways set to come into more frequent simultaneous use from summer 2018.

Cllr Peter Coan endorsed the working group as ‘one of the most important’ the council could form, and was supported in calls for it to report to full council rather than the environment committee.

He said: “Planes landing and taking off follow land-based markers. Part of the changes to air traffic control will mean that a new GPS system will be introduced.

“This is an ideal opportunity for KTC to have an input into the GPS routes the planes will be asked to follow. They can even be altered for different times of day and different events.

“It’s vital that this working group is set up to liaise with the airport to see if we can fine-tune this system to the benefit of Knutsford.”

Doubts were cast by Cllr Simon Hutchence, calling the flight noise ‘a question of geography’, but Cllr Power said communication and engagement with the airport was key to bringing about change.

Fellow working group member Cllr Dean said: “The main problem comes from night noise, and particularly landings on runway two because it’s closer to us.

“We can reduce the percentage of flights coming in at night, make it so it’s not the worst time of night, or have it so quieter aircraft get the night slots with steeper rates of descent.

“Obviously there are safety implications, but as an example London City Airport has a six degree descent rate versus three degrees here. Even changing that to four degrees would have an impact.

“There are technical things that can be done but at the moment there is no reason for the airport to do it. I am convinced that we can achieve something by putting more pressure on.”

The group will work with the airport as well as ‘highly-skilled and active’ residents who have already offered their services.