Just over half of Fifers who took part in the latest consultation are unhappy about proposals to change flight paths at Edinburgh Airport.

A report on the second stage of the consultation process was published today and revealed a total of 1085 individuals, eight organisations and three officials from Fife submitted their views.

The document – which details who responded, where they were, and what they said – will now help to shape Edinburgh Airport’s flight change proposals and recommendations to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) later this summer.

Totalling 28 per cent of the overall responses, 51 per cent of these who replied in Fife expressed negative sentiments, 25 per cent were positive while the remaining 24 per cent were neutral.

There were 1117 negative comments about noise and 689 negative comments about the consultation process.

The airport had asked for views on the potential impact of altering flight paths as it says current paths rely on 1950s technology.

However the plans had raised concerns about an increase in the number of planes passing over West Fife homes, with residents worried about more noise and air pollution.

The consultation process had also been brought into question and, in April, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley called for it to be halted.

Speaking at a debate in the Scottish Parliament, he said the consultation was full of contradictions, lacked vital information and was misleading.

Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor Dave Dempsey also raised concerns as he said the preferred options for the new flight paths provided a "double whammy" for south Fife as planes would be lower than before, which would mean more noise.

He also expressed fears that North Queensferry would be the only place under a flight path 365 days a year.

Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said views would be carefully considered as they shaped their final proposals which are expected later in the summer.

“A change in Edinburgh’s airspace is much needed in order to follow the current modernisation of all airspace across the UK, as well as building capacity to meet current and future demand," he explained.

“But it must be balanced and managed in a way that benefits Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole and minimises the impact on local communities. That’s why the rich and informed conversations we’ve had have been so important – to inform, debate and scrutinise.

“We acknowledge that some mistakes have been made and they have been embarrassing for us, but we have learned from and rectified them. However, we are confident that they did not impair the overall completeness of the consultation; we have been open in identifying them and tenacious in our attempts to fix them.

“We have actively listened and had those discussions – full-blooded at times – to gain a greater understanding of the public’s view on these proposals, which was the key aim from this second consultation."

Mr Dewar went on to thank all those who had engaged in the process.

He added: "It has enriched our understanding of your concerns and opinions about the options we set out, and I assure you that we have listened to you and your views loud and clear.”