Further to sundry applications for airfield planning consent and the Red Tape Challenge. I wrote to the LAA (Light Aircraft Association) and received a reply. I’ll place the content of the two letters on this forum.
There does appear to be some help in the offing.
By: John Green - 22nd March 2015 at 10:52
Brian Davies,
Chairman,
Light aircraft Association,
Turwestobn Airfield,
Northamptonshire
11th March, 2015
Dear Chairman,
Re Grant Shapps Red Tape Challenge
About a year ago, I wrote a response to the above. My reply contained a single idea which, though not dealing specifically with the removal of ‘red tape’, featured a suggestion beneficial to the future of General Aviation.
The pressure to release land for residential and commercial development is practically irresistible. Given that there appears to be too much airfield supply chasing too little GA demand, the argument for maintaining the status quo cannot be sustained.
I envisage some kind of ‘trade-off’. In return for not opposiong the loss of an airfield and its future development, we – GA, should have enshrined in law a provision that requires the developer to provide an alternative airfield to that which is being lost. The loss of an amenity should not mean a total loss. If we go on losing airfields at an accelerating rate without replacing them with an alternative, GA as we know it will disappear.
Depending on the location of the threatened airfield, it should be possible for developers to locate within a ten mile radius a convenient strip (farm strip) suitable for the establishment of a basic single runway, plus control tower, cafeteria and administrative buildings. The cost of this and the and the application and gaining of planning consent would be to the account of the developer with no financial liability upon the dispossessed.
Both dvelopments should proceed only in parallel. Ownershiop of the new facility could rest in the hands of a Trust or, group of shareholders comprising the residents of the former airfield subject to them having had at least a five year period of residency, which condition, would serve as a barrier to ‘carpetbaggers’.
I do not think that any of this will serve as a deterrent to prospective developers. The financial rewards are colossal. Some of the smallest airfields with development potential will support the building of at least 500 residential units – Old Sarum is a case in point. If we do not do something to help matters, the situation will go from bad to worse. Young people, the future of GA, will most surely see the signs of decline and will draw an obvious conclusion especially if they are considering a commercial career. Will they want to shackle themselves to a dying industry ?
If, in your judgment, the content of this letter has any ment, I would ask the LAA to publicise it and use the content as a subject for discussion at the next Red Tape Challenge meeting.
Yours faithfully,
John Green (Member)
From Brian Davies
To John Green.
20th March, 2015
Dear John,
Many thanks for your letter regarding the protection of airfield facilities as part of the Red Tape Challenge. Although there has been considerable enthusiasm for many of the initiatives that have flowed from the RTC, the message regarding airfields has been much less encouraging. It is clear that building houses on brownfield sites is more of an election winner that protecting airfields.
This area requires special attention and the General Aviation Awareness Council which is partly funded by the LAA has a specific remit to protect our interests. One chink of light is that there is a ‘legal’ requirement to provide alternative sites when sports facilities are built on. The Laa, along with some other aviation associations is registered with Sport England as the governing body for sports and recreational aviation and the GAAC are trying to identify airfields that are a key to providing sporting facilities for aviation so that they can gain from this planning requirement. You will see that this is very much in line with your idea.
Thank you again for taking the trouble to write to me about this. If you can be of assistance in developing a case for any particular airfield, I am sure Steve Slater would like to hear from you. He can be contacted on [email]ss@kingpinmedia.co.uk[/email] or on 01494 776831.
Best regards,
Brian Davies
Chairman LAA
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March 21, 2015 at 12:11 pm