Can I just point out that in many parts of the country there are footpaths, bridleways and the like criss-crossing the land. I know of a few around St Mawgan, Shoreham and Fairford, for example, and there were one or two not far from Old Warden a few years ago (not sure about now). In fact almost certainly every airfield is surrounded by footpaths – as pimply-faced youths we all would have stood there, peering over or through the hedge, eager to see what might be hidden behind the hanger, probably reggie spotting. We’ve all been there, done that, haven’t we?
Not condoning trespassers but those who are chucking the term freeloader around appear (to me) to not be doing themselves any favours with the casual legitimate onlooker – you give them something to gawp at and they will come, because they are nosy and things that are unusual, loud or fantastic to see do attract attention.
There will always be people who feel nothing can happen to them (and usually they are right), no matter what you do there will always be deliberate or incidental spectators who view without paying.
Short of putting up huge barriers to prevent them from seeing anything and keeping the display and all flying within the confines of the airfield nothing is going to change.
You cannot make claims about them stealing the view anymore than the government can charge us for using the Sun (in a usual Summer, anyway, but don’t give them ideas…). The best that could be done is shaming them with the information that it is a charity event or something and ask for donations – maybe the organisers could send a few stewards out with collection tins, health and safety willing.
Pushing the idea that standing in a field is dangerous because aircraft could crash there is the same as telling the locals that an aircraft will crash there, and that would probably set off the likes of Germaine Greer claiming that Spitfires flying around five foot above her chimney are dangerous. Again.
Now shoot me down.
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