Heads-up. Hooton Park on Heritage Heroes.

Griffin Trust do not want, nor do they need, the hangars.

They are a vehicle group, self sufficient where they are and don’t need the liabilities the hangars bring.

The hangars were only ever used by them firstly to store their vehicles in, then for their proposed transport museum. With the end of their plans for their museum dying in the late nineties they then used them for indoor bootsales and jumbles and now, with them belonging to the Hooton Park Trust and the hangars being in such disrepair and a big liability, would happily see them gone.

Where they are in the M/T sheds fulfils all of their needs.

Anon.

The Griffin Trust website is very old and not been updated for ages.
I cannot believe that so much heritage effort is likely to go to waste at Hooton.

What exactly is it that the Griffin trust aims to achieve that the other groups don’t, or I suppose what do the other groups wish to see happen that the GT doesnt? From what I understand everyone is keen to see the hangers saved.

As Pully has said, talking is not an option available to us.

It is naive to presume that getting the parties together around the table will solve this problem – it will not.

Any discussion would be based on the premise that differing factions/groups wish to find a solution to the problem – but they are not communicating and don’t want to.

If they don’t talk/communicate then they don’t have to compromise. Quite simply, they are not interested. It is being done in the name of the Hooton Park Trust but is being driven by an agenda within a site group called the Griffin Trust who, I believe, ultimately want what they consider to be “their” hangars back.

They are good at dirty tricks and behind-the-scenes skulduggery, briefing against individuals to their own advantage and, seemingly, convincing the HPT that our presence is not required.

I have an inkling of what has been said but, and I have always said this, any problem can be sorted out by communication. If they won’t come to the table then what are we to do?

As an aside, three times in the last twelve years I have shaken hands with the GT chairman in a bid to “make up and get along”. He has accepted this at the time then merrily carried on his campaign as before.

(Constructive) suggestions please.

Anon.

Thanks Pully

Richard

Richard,

Point taken and I agree! I spent 10 years there ‘discussing’ the future and giving time and money to the place

Now they have removed the ‘discussion’ option and just kicked us off site

thanks for the feedback

Still sounds like heads need banging!!!! Would it be worth inviting the offenders to view the forum. Every story has 2 sides and just maybe if they are oblivious of their actions then something positive may come out of it.

Perhaps the local paper might find some interest in a Hooton mafia story?

Thanks for saying that, I was trying to decide whether to respond or just forget about it

As far as I know there is no mechanism for the public to manage the public’s money directly. There are just too many of us. The accepted way is to have an identified group that receives and manages funds – which is what is in place.

Now, if there are disagreements between various groups, the solution is invariably discussion

Again, from the outside, it looks like spats between groups with differing aims, and I’m only getting one side of the story. Bottom line for me – if I happened to be local to this project, would I want to get involved? No bloody way

Richard

Still sounds like heads need banging!!!! Would it be worth inviting the offenders to view the forum. Every story has 2 sides and just maybe if they are oblivious of their actions then something positive may come out of it.

Perhaps the local paper might find some interest in a Hooton mafia story?

Anon / Richard,

To answer your question regarding whether this is the right thing to do.

The hangars were saved by a consortium of groups and some very hard working people that includes Anon.

Griffin Trust, North West Aviation Museum Group (NAHM), The Wirral Aviation Society (TWAS) Clwyd Aviation Group (CAG) and more were involved in the SHH campaign, but ultimatley the hangars were saved By The Public For The Public!

The board that were given control of the hangars came from a mixture of the groups and were allowed to raise minimal funding to keep the business running but the major investment was to come from HLF and EH, which is Public money.

So far any money recieved by Hooton has been Public money. The return on investment calculation for this money eventually is a site that will be open and used by the public in may ways.

This is the problem we face, there seems to be no rules or regulations that control this sort of site. The current groups have formed a ‘Closed Shop’ enviroment of which we and other willing people are not allowed in, this is not in keeping of the spririt, history and effort that went into saving the hangars in the first place.

That I think is why Anon is justified in this case.

They expect to recieve Public (Our) money, in return they lock us out?

OK Anon, thanks for a reasoned reply.

Anson

Anson Aggie Paggie has gone to Retro Aviation and is being parted for spares to supply Richard’s Mk.1 project and others.

Anon.

Where’s the Anson gone?

Fried?…

No you won’t, Seafuryfan.

I’m aware that this is quite a long-running tale (and I apologise for that and thank those of you that have stayed with it) and it is not over yet. However, there has been a lot of interest voiced in the contents of the thread(s) -though I will be rounding off the story this week.

You may have gathered there have been lots of people affected by the goings on at Hooton in the last 15 years, indeed some of them have posted and e-mailed their support too. It’s not a storm in a teacup nor is it a problem for which a solution is just a meeting away.

The solution is more radical than that though I doubt there is anyone with the courage or ability to carry it out. However, if this thread airs these issues more widely then that can only be a good thing.

Suggestion as to a remedy for our woes or advice as to how to tackle it is encouraged – surrender is not an option! It is too late when the hangars have gone.

Anon.

Anon, I’ve read your posts with interest and it serves as a cautionary tale for all. I’ve got the gist of what happened and you have had plenty of posters with similar tales. Do you think this story has run its course, theraputic though it may be?

I’m probably going to get fried for this post, but ‘ah well’.

Thanks for your observations, Richard. I think you probably represent a large number of people who know nothing about what has been going on at Hooton and are very surprised (and possibly taken aback) by the revelations and assertions voiced in this thread.

This is not only a long-running dispute between different personalities, it is also, more importantly, a last-ditch attempt to bring to wider attention some recognition of the fact that a small, narrow-minded faction, having given up their plans to develop the site now would like to dispose of all other interests and the hangars themselves, and ensure their own, and their group’s, survival there.

The programme served no useful purpose than to show the hangars and their current condition and some of the personalities involved. It was not the TV producer’s remit to show the hangar’s project in a true light.

There are always differences of opinion (this is normal, and healthy, human behaviour). The issue here is the potential loss and destruction of the Hooton Hangars ultimately for the benefit of a few individuals who care (despite what they may say publicly) little or nothing for the site.

The Hooton Hangars represent a highly varied and important facet of the growth of aviation, both military and civil, in the NW of England, and in this regard it is unique. It is indicative of the general feeling abroad that the entire Hooton project has been poorly managed and that a certain minority has had a malign influence on this process to the detriment of the hangars, and which may possibly be contributory to their final destruction.

I think that is clear enough reason to act and to attempt to bring to a wider audience the fact that this appears to be happening under our noses – despite the nice noises emanating from those who would oversee this destruction.

Anon.

As a totally ignorant outside observer, I can’t see where you are going with this. It looks like one group owns the place and has fallen out with another group, resulting in civil war and attempts to recruit people to one side or the other

Is the future of the hangars really going to be decided by argument?

As I say, I know nothing about the place, beyond seeing the building s on TV last night

Richard

If only…

As Atcham Tower says; if only it was that easy.

This thread, and the Trouble Up North thread are, basically, a last desperate attempt to not only bring a seemingly intractible problem some publicity but also to see if anyone out there can suggest how we may solve it.

I (and others) have been trying to crack this nut for years – and failing. These people know their game (it seemingly comes easily to them) and whatever happens to myself, my friends and my collection the Hooton Hangars must be the priority because, as you will have read in the threads, I believe it is under threat once again.

I have been frank and honest in my tellings a tack, I might add, which has got me absolutely nowhere at Hooton. I believe the eleventh hour for the Hooton project may not be too far away.

Part 4 of the Trouble thread will be posted tonight or tomorrow and if you think you have been reading some pretty unlikely goings-on until now, just wait ’til you hear the rest.

Anon.

I agree but I only wish it were that easy

I’ve never been to Hooton and admitably never even knew the place exsisted until I saw it last night on the telly. Seems to be a place full of potential, it’s survived for 90 odd years but is it now really going to fade away due to tittle tattle?

What a crying shame!! Heads need banging, send coordinates and ill ship over a crate of beer and a pack of cards if it will help get people talking…..

Guys, this is getting personal, and this is not the right place for personal attacks against anyone, however you feel about them.

Bruce