NEIGHBOURS blighted by noisy planes are rallying together following fears trial routes, which were halted prematurely following public outrage, are in use again. 

With the latest analysis of flights over the Ascot area underway - and set to be released within the next few weeks - a number of residents have expressed concerns that potential flightpaths which were trialled by Heathrow in August 2014 are still in operation. 

The airspace trial, a bid from airport bosses to reduce ‘stacking’ in the air and speed up departure times, was met with widespread criticism from residents who felt they had not been consulted on the changes, and ended early in on November 12, 2014, rather than the scheduled January 2015. 

Two of the three routes affected, known as Midhurst and Compton, saw an increase of aircraft flying up to a height of 4,000ft, impacting the Ascot and Bracknell area respectively.

However, disgruntled residents have written to airport bosses, as they believe the Midhurst trial route is "absolutely still in operation" and "causing unnecessary noise and misery to thousands of Ascot residents". 

Sunninghill and South Ascot ward councillor Lynda Yong said: "We are concerned in Ascot and the Sunnings.

"There is gate traffic as the flights leave Heathrow and because of this the aircraft tends to be lower.

"A lot of residents are complaining again that the noise has increased and we are certainly finding that there is a lot more noise in the evenings and at the weekends.

"It's almost as though they did the trial period, they quietened it down and now they are doing it again.

"I have lived here for over 20 years and I never heard aircraft when I am sat in my living room watching TV but you can hear them coming.

"It is upsetting that Heathrow aren't be honest, they are dragging their heels, we want to know the information and the truth.

"To say we have become noise sensitive is unacceptable, they have changed."

An Ascot resident, who did not want to be named, criticised the airport for what he believed to be a "stonewall approach".

He said: "It goes back to the summer of 2014 when unbeknownst to the local community, the bosses at Heathrow decided to run some trials.

"They started to do some trials without telling the vast majority of people and one of the reasons we live in Ascot is because it sits neatly between four different flights paths. 

"The people of Ascot went from never being overflown, even though we're only about eight or nine miles from Heathrow, to being faced with a couple of hundred flights a day. 

"When the trial period ended, it didn't seem like they had diminished to the point that they were the same as how they were before the trial. 

"There has been no admittance from Heathrow apart from when they eventually admitted the flight route had been changed in July 2014 and a stonewall approach. It was all a bit of a mystery at first. 

"When things change and the changes appear to be made without anyone being accountable and no community engagement, we need some honesty or clarity from Heathrow.

"Their defence is if flights are over 4,000 feet, they can take any route they want, but the key question is, when did that come into force?"

Ascot and Cheapside ward councillor, David Hilton, who is involved with several Heathrow noise forums, confirmed he had recently met with with Heathrow bosses alongside community representative Kate Mann.

Feedback, on whether there has been a significant shift in air traffic over the Ascot area and whether altitudes have decreased, will be published soon.