Night flights battle goes to High Court

The Government will have to defend its plans to change the rules governing night flights in the High Court.

A High Court judge has given the go-ahead for a judicial review brought by Wandsworth and Richmond councils. It could be heard as early as next week. The councils fear the rule changes could lead to a threefold increase in the number of arrivals before 6am.

The case will examine the Government's claim it is prevented by the EU from amending performance-based noise restrictions for aircraft, even though it has admitted its engine noise data is faulty.

Last year Wandsworth experts revealed that the noise level associated with 16 jumbo jets before 6am is 75 per cent higher than claimed in official figures.

If the councils win, the Government would have to re-run a consultation that ended on 29 October.