GA Airfields currently under threat

Originaly posted as WHITE WALTHAM : under threat ?

Possibly under threat due to the building of Heathrow's third runway as flagged up by the General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC) ;

"One of the UK’s most historic and iconic airfields, and one of its most popular, is facing an uncertain period as plans for Heathrow’s third runway evolve – and could lead to airliners at 1,700 feel overhead, effectively making continuation of GA at White Waltham untenable.
Visiting the Heathrow consultation website (afo.heathrowconsultation.com) and entering the postcode for White Waltham Airfield (SL6 3NJ) leads to a seven-page questionnaire, with an interactive map. Entering the postcode again generates a list of design envelopes and a map of the local area with different coloured bands, with the airfield shown by a pin."
Link here ; www.gaac.org.uk/have-your-say-heathrows-...re-of-white-waltham/

Interestingly in a meeting at White Waltham on the 26 January the GAAC also highlighted several other GA airfields which are also under possible threat of closure ;
"The main points, summarised by John Walker at the AOPA Members Working Group at White Waltham on Saturday 26th January, were:

Plan for 112 houses at Halfpenny Green (Wolverhampton Business Airport) but only on part of the site, not affecting the runways and including development of three new hangars. In this case, the housing will help pay for further development of the airfield.

Langar (Notts) – was owned by British Parachute Schools but sold this month to owner of Tollerton (Nottingham City Airport), who sold that for housing.

Manston – Consultation ends on 9th July, but application is very significant as a “trailblazer” ahead of Heathrow’s formal application for its third runway.

Old Sarum – more Public Inquiry hearings in February.

Redhill Aerodrome – surprisingy seems to be safe from housing now after both local authorities discounted housing prospects or earmarked for employment. Reigate planning inspector rejected housing prospects as it is on a flood plain.

Gamston (Retford) – the biggest surprise was Gamston coming under threat with a proposed Garden Village. Public Consultation ends 10th March. Application seems to have come “out of the blue”. Prompted AOPA CEO Martin Robinson to say there should be a Public Inquiry whenever there is a proposal to close an airfield, as with railway stations. He called on the APPG for GA to make this a focus.

Wellesbourne Mountford – Outcome of business tenants’ Appeal Hearing on 17th January not known yet.

Dunsfold – developers now clear to go ahead with housing after an appeal failed."
Link here ; www.gaac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/...-UPDATE-Jan-2019.pdf .

netcompsys wrote:

I felt this deserved a wider audience than it had tucked into a memorial thread so have moved it herekevin

Thanks Kevin . I didn't read the small print and thought it was the WW airfields thread !
Yes , one or two surprises in that list for sure ?

Dozens of others under threat incluidng Bourne (Cambridge), Fairoaks, Panshanger plus many RAF airfields closing from 2020 and already 'earmarked' for houses eg Halton.

My own interest is of course Fairoaks where I worked as a FISO since retiring from Farnborough however it has recently had unexpected support first from the Environment Secretary Michael Gove (who happends to be the local MP) and his department who are objecting on 'flood plain' issues and more recently, Woking Town Council Planning Committee has unanimously voted to oppose housing development at Fairoaks.

Although re-development at Dunsfold is scheduled to commence mid year, there is a 'condition' on this in that infrastructure such as new road links must be in place before this and as far as I'm aware, work on this hasn't even started yet.

As for Halton, any work on housebuilding could not commence until all sub-surface reinforcement has been cleared; much of the south side of the airfield has PSP just below the surface and much of the rest of the airfield has steel rod mesh just below the surface.

Two videos of interest re Heathrow expansion etc

Regarding Halfpenny Green, the area earmarked for housing is comparatively sensible - it's the area behind the old Guardroom & Fire Party accommodation (to the right as you go in the gate) and is currently all completely overgrown woodland/waste ground, apart from the completely derelict and mainly collapsed cinema, plus the slightly more intact, but not much, MT shed. It's not a threat to the operation of the airfield, other than the obvious fact that someone WILL move in there and instantly start making noise complaints. It's inevitable.

I did actually send in a contact form a short while ago, asking whether the ARG would have any interest in at least semi-formally surveying HG before some of the more derelict structures collapse fully, because it's so complete, but seems to be primarily built to local drawing numbers which have been lost in the mists of time. I don't know whether anyone received that or not, but if the current plan for housing works, I foresee a handful of other locations around the airfield that could be similarly used; some of which contain other derelict/disused buildings.

After speaking to the airfield manager, however, he's still very upbeat about the airfield's future. I need to bug him again about getting in to photograph what's left of the cinema before it goes completely!

Ian P.

Me too. Ended up watching one on trams!

TerryClark wrote:

Although re-development at Dunsfold is scheduled to commence mid year, there is a 'condition' on this in that infrastructure such as new road links must be in place before this and as far as I'm aware, work on this hasn't even started yet.


 

I'm told that work on a new access road direct onto the airfield from the A381 road along the line of the original starter extension has commenced and the runway has been shortened by 200m as a consequence.
There is no indication as to where and when any building work might commence which might further affect aircraft operations.