COUNCILLORS have stepped in to implement a compromise following a bitter dispute over flight paths for trainee RAF pilots in the skies above a North Yorkshire air base.

Members of the ruling cabinet at Hambleton District Council have made a vital judgement that could decide the fate of the RAF Linton-on-Ouse aircraft routes.

Since 1995, the base has trained its pilots in Tucano aircraft on flight paths to the north, north-west and south of the base.

Last April, RAF officers decided to trial a new set of circuits, moving many to the east and south to try to give a more "geographic spread" of noise.

But the temporary circuits angered residents from Linton and Newton-on-Ouse, who complained that they were being disturbed by noise from the aircraft. Tucanos taking off from runway 28 at the base flew directly over Newton-on-Ouse, leading to a villagers' campaign calling for a return to the original circuits.

RAF chiefs at the base asked Hambleton District Council for its views on the future of the flight paths.

At a cabinet meeting yesterday, councillors agreed on a compromise solution, approving circuits similar to those currently on trial, but avoiding Newton-on-Ouse.

Councillors argued their proposed new route would spread the noise more fairly across the area.

The new flight path will take runway 28 aircraft 1.5km away from Newton, 1.3km away from Tollerton, 2.4km away from Alne, 1km away from Aldwark and 0.9km away from Linton.

Hambleton District Council will now formally recommend to the air base that its circuits be changed to the new routes in April - although their advice is not legally binding.

Villagers in Newton have reluctantly welcomed the compromise solution.

Local resident Richard Pulleyn called the councillors' recommendation "a step in the right direction".

Council leader Arthur Barker said: "We have done our job. There is no perfect solution to this - it is impossible for us to please everyone all the time.

"Not everyone will be content with this, but we have made the distribution of noise as fair as possible.

"To be honest, this is the nearest we are ever going to get.

"Once our decision is formally published in the next few days, our scrutiny committee will have five days to call in our decision. After that period our decision will be enacted, and we will send a letter to the RAF with our recommendation - and hopefully this will now all be resolved."

Updated: 10:28 Wednesday, March 16, 2005