Help save Davidstow airfield!!

Mark

Are you acting on behalf of RJC Partridge for the Executors of the Estate of WR Partridge (deceased)??

Are you related to RJC Partridge for the Executors of the Estate of WR Partridge (deceased)???

Baz

Mark, it’s distracting that you’ve resurrected this old Davidstow thread to flag up issues about St Merryn. To draw more attention to the current matter would it be better to start a new thread with St Merryn in the title as your post (unless I’ve misunderstood) does not concern Davidstow?

Circus 6, were you referring to St Merryn or talking about Davidstow as you describe a desolate location and a museum – SFAIK there’s no museum at St Merryn?

Tim

I guess it’s inevitable. You can’t save them all, and unless the flying community is thriving there, I’m sure it’s use is somewhat questionable. I visited a few years ago and apart from the museum there, it looked incredibly desolate and bleak. Wind farms add a level of interest IMHO, and unless the CAA and local flying populace stand together, this will happen again and again.

Help needed ” Its Happening again

TURBINE THREAT TO HISTORIC
CORNISH AIRFIELD
WIND TURBINE ERECTED WITHIN AIRFIELD FLYING CIRCUIT
NO AVIATION RISK ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED
CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY SAFETY GUIDANCE IGNORED
DEVELOPER MISLEADS PLANNING AUTHORITY
PLANNING AUTHORITY FAILS TO CONSULT AIRFIELD OWNER
AIRFIELD OWNER DIES DURING PLANNING PROCESS
St Merryn Airfield is located on the North Cornwall coast near Padstow. This historically significant
aerodrome was established in the late 1920’s by the widow of William Rhodes Moorhouse V.C.,
the first pilot to ever be (posthumously) awarded the Victoria Cross in the early days of WW1.
The aerodrome was commandeered by the Royal Navy in 1937 and became the first ever Royal
Naval Air Station, operational by 1943 and known as HMS Vulture. The MOD disposed of the
facility in the 1960’s and local farmer Bob Partridge, acquired the bulk of the facility in 1967 as part
of his agricultural holding.
Several vintage aircraft were restored at St Merryn during Bob’s tenure, including the celebrated
Grace 2-seater Spitfire. The airfield was approved as a gyrocopter training facility in the 1970’s and
for 25 years St Merryn Airfield was a home to a successful parachute club. Flying has been
continuous since Bob acquired the facility and a number of light aircraft, gyrocopters, microlights &
motor gliders are resident at the airfield. Cornwall Air Ambulance has used St Merryn Airfield to
attend nearby medical emergencies. RAF Sea King helicopter makes forced landing in fog at St
Merryn Airfield.
July 2011; Windberry Energy Ltd applied for planning consent to erect an anemometer mast within
the flying circuit at St Merryn Airfield. The Airfield is clearly marked as “private” on the O/S location
map submitted by the Applicant. Despite specific warnings from the Civil Aviation Authority to the
Local Planning Authority, the Airfield operator was neither notified or consulted.
October 2011; Windberry Energy Ltd applied for planning consent for a 54 metre wind turbine
within the flying circuit at the Airfield. The Developer submitted an Aviation and Communications
Assessment to the Local Planning Authority together with a location map showing St Merryn
Airfield as “private”. The Aviation and Communications Assessment fails to mention St Merryn
Airfield, less than 1000 metres away. Bob Partridge was neither notified or consulted.
February 2012; Bob Partridge died.
May 2012; Planning consent is granted for the 54m turbine.
August 2012; The Executors of the Estate of WR (Bob) Partridge (deceased) learn of the planning
consent and serve Cornwall Council with papers for a Judicial Review. Cornwall Council oppose
the action on the grounds that the Application for a Judicial Review is too late to comply with
statutory regulations. The Executor’s Barrister advises that the action will fail due to the statutory
regulations and the Executors are forced to withdraw.
August 2012; Solicitors for the Executors write to Windberry Energy Ltd asking why St Merryn
Airfield is omitted from their Aviation and Communications Assessment. Windberry aver that their
“aviation expert” (Wind Power Aviation Consultants Ltd) conducted a report on St Merryn Airfield
but left it out of their Aviation and Communications Assessment. Savills, agents for Windberry,
refuse to disclose the alleged (concealed) document, citing “commercial sensitivity”.
Solicitors for the Executors inform Windberry, Cornwall Council and the landowner they will be in
contravention of Civil Aviation Authority safety guidance if the turbine is erected and try to
persuade Windberry to site the turbine elsewhere on the landowner’s 200 acre farm.
2013; The wind turbine is not erected.
August 2014; The Executors learn that Windberry Energy Ltd have sold the planning consent to
AG Renewables Ltd. AGR begin work on the site. Solicitors for the Executors write to AGR and
inform them that they will be in contravention of Civil Aviation Authority guidelines if the turbine is
erected and invite AGR to conduct their own aviation risk assessment. Solicitors for AGR claim the
planning consent is “immune from challenge” and the turbine will go ahead.
November 2014; Betty Partridge (93 year old widow of Bob Partridge) writes to the Prime Minister
and Secretary of State informing them that the wind turbine Application failed to address St Merryn
Airfield in the Aviation and Communications Assessment and the turbine will be erected without an
appropriate Risk Assessment. The CAA are informed.
5 January 2015; AGR agree to meet the Executors. The Executors invite AGR to conduct their own
risk assessment and furnish AGR with a Powerpoint presentation outlining the aviation safety
contraventions pertaining to St Merryn Airfield. The Executors repeat their request for the alleged
aviation safety report on St Merryn Airfield conducted by Wind Power Aviation Consultants Ltd in
2011. AGR refuse to disclose the concealed report. Executors quote Section 137 of the Air
Navigation Order, which provides that “a person must not recklessly or negligently act in a manner
likely to endanger an aircraft or any person in an aircraft”.
Solicitors for AGR inform the Executors the planning consent is “immune from challenge” and the
turbine will be erected in late January, early February 2015.
February 2 2015; Cranes begin erecting the 177ft wind turbine.
* * * * * *
RJC Partridge for the Executors of the Estate of WR Partridge (deceased)
[email]jo@airfieldstudios.freeserve.co.uk[/email]

🙂 Some good news at last 🙂

Indeed it is.
I recieved my notification that this was the case a few weeks ago, dated the 28th September, but i’m always a little sceptical thinking that knowing how slippery they are, the developer will have some other ‘trick’ up their sleeve which will lead you into a false sense of security and then WALLOP!!!!

Bomberboy

🙂 Some good news at last 🙂

Indeed it is.
I recieved my notification that this was the case a few weeks ago, dated the 28th September, but i’m always a little sceptical thinking that knowing how slippery they are, the developer will have some other ‘trick’ up their sleeve which will lead you into a false sense of security and then WALLOP!!!!

Bomberboy

Just been looking at Davidstow on google earth. Using the “street view” mode to drive over that airfield really does give a great perspective of the size of the place. Suprised that so many shelters and pans are left in such good condition. It brought back some good memories of Stoney cross and Holmsley airfields in the New Forest in the early seventies, they were fairly similar before the bulldozers moved in!

Just been looking at Davidstow on google earth. Using the “street view” mode to drive over that airfield really does give a great perspective of the size of the place. Suprised that so many shelters and pans are left in such good condition. It brought back some good memories of Stoney cross and Holmsley airfields in the New Forest in the early seventies, they were fairly similar before the bulldozers moved in!

🙂 Some good news at last 🙂

🙂 Some good news at last 🙂

I had a letter from NCDC saying that the appeal against the denial of planning permission had been withdrawn 🙂

I had a letter from NCDC saying that the appeal against the denial of planning permission had been withdrawn 🙂

I bought a book about Davidstow’s use as a motor racing circuit some years ago.

For pete’s sake can’t they leave anything alone? I visited the airfield a couple of years ago whilst on holiday and i remember going into the derelict tower and just standing there, looking out over the main runway and trying to imagine Beaufighters and Warwicks roaring by. Very atmospheric!

I think i’m right in saying that Cornwall has very few airfields of any kind, let alone relatively untouched ones like this.
I also remember visiting St Eval and St Merryn as well, happy days!!

Thanks for raising this Anne, I was sure that Davidstow would never be touched, just shows developers have got their eyes on everything!
Will send an objection in.

It holds some sort of distinction as a race circuit, something like the first Aston Martin grand prix win.
Anne will probably know more.

Davidstow rang a bell from a book I bought last year about disused motor racing circuits. Apparently it was used as a race circuit from 1952 to 54. The book claims it was/is 970 ft above sea level – suppossedly the highest operational airfield in the UK during WW2 and the GI’s stationed there hated the place because it was prone to heavy rain and gales which came straight in off the Atlantic.
I was a bit surprised to hear it is still in use but, particularly in a county where airfields airfiels tend to be few and ar between it seems a huge shame to lose what is obviously a well used and popular airfield and leisure facility. Surely there are alternative sites for wind farms. What is wrong with the offshore solution proposed for other parts of the country. If they can find room in the Thames estuary/North Sea for a wind farm then I am sure there must be a bit of space in the Atlantic.

Done – thanks for the ‘heads up’. Happy memories of learning to drive and learning to fly R/C models there many years ago.