Eshott Airfield fights ban on emergency services flights

Emergency service and military aircraft have been banned from landing at Eshott Airfield – even for refuelling while on a mission or exercise.

Northumberland County Council Planning Department and Enforcement Team has this week served an enforcement notice to the airfield stating that emergency service and military aircraft must not be allowed to land.

This is despite the airfield’s current planning permission expressly stating: “With the exception of landings/take-offs only by military aircraft, emergency services aircraft and/or aircraft in an emergency situations, the airfield shall not be used other than by gliders, microlights, helicopters and propeller driven aircraft. No such individual aircraft shall exceed 5700 kilograms in weight.”

A statement from the airfield said, “Regardless of the clear public interest and benefit, it is our position that we are well within our rights to do what we do and that our current planning permission wording allows exemption to the 5700kg weight restriction for emergency and military aircraft.

“[However] after several years of backwards and forward on this issue with U turn after U turn, contradicting information and refusal to respond to questions, NCC were adamant that our wording did not allow the use of the site by emergency and military aircraft. The Council forced us to submit a variation of condition application which was submitted in August 2022, and was acknowledged by them in writing. Since then, we have heard nothing until today.

“As an airfield we would love to have spent the last few years working constructively with NCC, but there is a complete lack of understanding in how much of a strategic asset Eshott Airfield is within the County.

“We find ourselves in a situation where NCC are going against the requirements of the Ministry of Defence who have told them that the facility we offer here is ‘vital’.

“We have proved our value working with the Coastguard in time saved during coastal searches with our rotors running refueling capability.

“Whilst the Council have said they will allow any aircraft to land in an emergency, they will not allow us to train with crews which is essential for a swift and safe operational response. An aircraft low on fuel returning from an emergency, is not allowed.”

Eshott Airfield. Photo: Paul Kiddell

The airfield will be appealing the decision with the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds that despite the very clear public interest, the current planning wording gives appropriate permission to allow emergency service and military aircraft to land for any reason as they are exempt from the 5700kg weight limit.

The statement continues, “The cost of the action taken over the past few years by NCC to work against something clearly in the public interest and benefit is substantial. We are confident in our success in an appeal process and in the meantime will continue to support public and Defence services if and when they need us.”

Among the comments following the airfield statement, James Booth, an Emergency Services helicopter pilot, said, “I can honestly [say] airfields such as yours provide safe havens for us in our hours of need. We often operate to the maximum endurance we can and this is frequently in the depth of the night. Being able to refuel at a small airfield closer to the scene means we can often assist/search for longer when our services are needed. Sure a big airport might only be 10 minutes further but that can add 20 minutes of transit time to what we are trying to achieve which can be the difference between life and death.”

In response to a query from FLYER, a spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said, ““The Council remains fully supportive for the airfield to be used by military and air-sea rescue aircraft in genuine emergencies.

Eshott Airfield
Northumberland Country Council