THE council failed to respond to a consultation on plans for thousands more planes to fly over the borough, it was claimed.

The number of flights going to and from London City Airport is to be capped at 120,000 per year, up from 73,000, after plans for airport expansion were approved by Newham council.

Karen Shaw, 51, of Colchester Road, Leyton, said: “There's been a massive increase since the beginning of July.

“We hardly heard anything before but now it's almost constant.”

Husband Steve Shaw, 54, added: "This used to be lovely and quiet. Now it's getting worse and worse."

In 2006, Waltham Forest council was consulted on the proposals set out by London City Airport Limited in a draft masterplan – but apparently did not make any comments.

Forest ward member Cllr Farooq Qureshi, whose constituents have been affected by the changes, said: “Other boroughs were supposed to reply, including Waltham Forest as it comes directly under the flight path, especially in Leyton and Leytonstone.

“Waltham Forest was consulted but regrettably failed to respond.”

The council was not approached during a second consultation exercise in 2008.

A masterplan was put before the Greater London Authority (GLA) in June 2006 and states “the proportion of larger (often noisier) aircraft would increase” as a result of the expansion.

Mark Dawes, of the Waltham Forest and Redbridge Green Party, said: "It's extremely disappointing that the council never responded.

"That they had the opportunity to represent the views of the people and didn't is disgraceful."

Redbridge has also been affected by the changes and the council has confirmed it was consulted in a National Air Traffic Services consultation in 2008, but not on the planning application.

A spokesman said: “Redbridge fed into this consultation and a joint response on behalf of all London Boroughs was prepared by the London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee (TEC).

“It raised serious concerns about the Government's Policy on airport expansion and the likely noise, air quality and safety concerns of concentrating flight paths, particularly over densely populated areas, including Redbridge.”

Newham council granted planning permission for the airport expansion in July this year, which included the increase of flights.

A meeting is to be held on October 2 from 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House in Bush Road to discuss the problem.

Cllr Terry Wheeler, cabinet member for enterprise and investment, said: "Newham Council have confirmed that Waltham Forest Council was not formally consulted about the planning application regarding expansion of London City Airport (LCA).

"The council’s planning teams carry out an enormous amount of work every week to ensure that the interests of our residents are protected and whenever we are included in formal consultation we will endeavour to respond in a timely and thorough manner.”