Noise pollution at Leeds-Bradford International Airport has to be slashed to fall in line with EU environmental policy, according to the findings of a Government study.

Airport chiefs have been told to produce a plan to tackle excessive noise, after falling foul of sound limits set out in the EU's Environmental Noise Directive.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published maps to outline areas around the country's major airports which suffer noise nuisance.

Its findings leave 18 of the country's airports having to come up with a plan to reduce noise before another assessment in five years' time.

Maps were produced for all airports that have more than 50,000 take-offs or landings per year and fall foul of a 55-decibel limit for noise generated during the day.

At its loudest aircraft using Leeds-Bradford Airport create 75 decibels of noise which effects areas directly under its flight paths and extends just into the tip of a residential area of Yeadon.

The map shows how noise pollution drops with distance from the airport and areas above the 55 decibel limit reach as far north as Guiseley Moor and south through the centre of Horsforth.

A DEFRA spokesman said: "Under the EU's Environmental Noise Directive, 55 decibels during the day and 50 decibels during the night are the levels at which noise is deemed an irritant.

"Seventy-five decibels is the same as a normal conversation or a vacuum cleaner and louder than a busy street. That level of noise constantly is an irritant."

Leeds-Bradford Airport already has some restrictions to limit noise pollution. Aircraft depart by flying over less-populated areas, there is a limit on how many aircraft arrive and depart at once, and only the quietest aircraft are allowed to fly at night.

It also operates a noise and track monitoring system that continually records aircraft noise.

In the community, windows of nearby residential properties have been fitted with a third pane of glass and in some cases, air conditioning fitted to homes.

An airport spokesman said: "Leeds-Bradford Airport is committed to adopting policies and activities that minimise our impact on its surrounding community.

"There are procedures in place to restrict the impact of noise on the airport's neighbours and as it develops it will endeavour to conduct its business in an environmentally-responsible manner and use all reasonably practicable means to mitigate the impact of the airport operations on the local community."

Councillor Ryk Downes (Otley and Yeadon, Lib Dem) welcomed the map.

He said: "While I have not received any specific complaints of airport noise, anything that improves the quality of life for residents and ensures continued monitoring has to be welcomed."

Yeadon resident, Edward Armitage, is subjected to between 50 and 60 decibels of noise on an average day according to the map.

He said: "I've lived here for a long time and over the years the noise has got quieter. I've been here so long it doesn't bother me when I'm inside but in summer time when you want to sit outside it is another matter."

John Hopkins, who lives parallel to a runway, said: "The worst source of noise comes through the chimney, you can tell which plane it is just by the sound. Obviously I would welcome any efforts to make it quieter."

Environment Minister, Jonathan Shaw, said: "Noise is an inescapable fact of modern life but we need to do what we can to manage it.

"A great deal has already been done to reduce noise from transport and industry but we need to build on and continue this work. These maps are part of that process and will enable us to better understand noise and deal with it."

e-mail: ben.barnett @bradford.newsquest.co.uk