The leader of Wandsworth council has lambasted the Government’s proposals to cut noise allowed from night flights.

Government measures set out for a public consultation, which was launched on Thursday 12, are supposed to "help encourage the use of quitter aircraft to limit the number of people significantly affected by aircraft noise at night".

However, Councillor Ravi Govindia has described the proposals as "disgraceful".

He said: "The Government’s consultation offers no reduction in Heathrow night flights until a third runway is built.

"That’s a disgraceful offer and flightpath communities won’t be impressed to see their right to a good night’s sleep used as a bargaining chip."

The Wandsworth council leader referenced "mounting evidence" that the noise from night flights was having long term health impacts on nearby residents.

He added: "The consultation also conveniently airbrushes out night noise guidelines from the World Health Organisation which set a lower noise threshold than the one used in the UK.

"This looks like another victory for the aviation industry and a blow for ordinary people living within Heathrow’s world beating noise footprint."

The current noise restrictions on night flights are due to expire in October and whatever new rules are implemented will last for five years.

The new measures set out include reducing total noise quota at Heathrow Airport by at least 43 per cent in winter (Gatwick 17) and 50 per cent in summer (Gatwick 21).

A "strict" cap will be put on the number of night flights at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports. 

Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad said the Government was "committed to tackling the issue of aircraft noise".

He said: "Night flights are, however, important to the economy, creating extra choice for passengers and moving freight, and we need to carefully balance the needs of local communities with the benefits these flights can bring. 

"That’s why we are encouraging the use of quieter aircraft by bringing in tighter noise quotas at the airports and setting strict caps on aircraft movements at night."

 The consultation will run until Tuesday 28 February 2017, after which responses will be reviewed and a final decision on night flights will be published. Check it out here.