District council leader Ferris Cowper, has called proposals for new flight paths over East Hampshire “a blight on the countryside, residents and businesses”.

The South Downs National Park authority has said it has concerns over increased air traffic over the national park emanating from TAG Farnborough airport.

Airport bosses have been consulting on proposals for airspace changes in the skies above East Hampshire and West Sussex for more than a year after changes were made to the original proposals.

The area covered by the new consultation, which runs until October 5, includes the majority of Liphook village centre as well as Milland and Midhurst and other parishes just over the border in West Sussex.

According to the TAG Farnborough proposals, flights will pass over Liphook at between 5,000 and 4,000 feet on their way to final approach into the airport.

Mr Cowper estimates at that altitude, the noise could be up to 61 decibels, the equivalent of conversational speech from one metre away.

TAG Farnborough forecasts that by 2019 there will be as many as 7,200 flights following the new route each year – an average of 19 per day.

Mr Cowper said: “Imagine sitting for a quiet lunch with friends in the garden of one of East Hampshire’s beautiful rural pubs and having to stop mid-conversation while a flight goes overhead. That’s not what I would want, and it’s not what I think local residents want.

“If these proposals are approved, they could affect tourism in the South Downs National Park and damage the economy of East Hampshire and neighbouring authorities. They could also have a devastating effect on general aviation and gliding locally.

“EHDC will be responding to this consultation in the strongest terms as we did for the original consultation and I will continue to fight for the interests of residents and businesses.

“I urge anyone who lives in or visits the proposed area to make their feelings known to TAG Farnborough before October 5.”

South Downs National Park Authority said it would be responding formally to the consultation.

A spokesman for the authority said: “More flights directed on a more concentrated path and at lower altitudes over the South Downs will have an impact on the tranquillity of the National Park. We are also concerned that the proposals will enable increased air traffic above the South Downs for flights approaching Gatwick.”

To find out more go to www.consul tation.tag farnborough.com.