7 December 2016
Stratford District Council has come out fighting to keep open Wellesbourne Airfield. It wants to stop demolition of the buildings in the new year that would force businesses on the airfield to close, with the loss of more than 200 jobs.
The leader of the council, Cllr Chris Saint, is seeking the help of central government to retain the site as an operational airfield. The airfield is part of Stratford’s Local Plan as an airfield.
‘We must consider all options to try and save the airfield’
Cllr Chris Saint said, “There is nothing to be gained by destroying businesses that employ more than 200 people. The council policy has the support of the national Planning Inspectorate and it is not a realistic option that demolition of operational buildings will make it easy for the owners to build a big housing estate at the airfield.
“We are confronted with an unnecessary threat to the businesses on site that would sterilise the site for any practical uses with the risk of an eyesore for many years to come, when we would not wish to put the integrity of our adopted Local Plan at risk.”
There is a chance the airfield could be bought by the council, according to Cllr Dave Riches. He said, “The District Council has always kept the compulsory purchase option as a last resort, with preference ideally given to help the owners and businesses flourish through support and enabling the enhancement of the existing flying facilities.
“Sadly, it would seem that negotiations have not progressed as we would have liked, and the site owners seem determined on the cessation of those businesses’ leases, ultimately resulting in a negative impact on the local economy and jobs.
“We must consider all options to try and save the airfield, its businesses and their respective employees. At this point in time, compulsory purchase has now presented itself as an option we should further investigate, and are actively doing so.
“The Council are not about to immediately strengthen the landowner’s position. We will use all tools at our disposal to do the best job for the taxpayer, facilitating businesses, jobs and tourism in this context.”
2 comments
compulsory purchase it and lease it to me to run
Stratford Council are to be applauded for trying to stop the airfield owners making a quick buck, Stratford Should look at what Fareham Borough Council have done at Lee on Solent (Daedalus) Airfield, they have secured it’s future by improving facility’s and releasing land not needed for flying activitys (most airfields don’t need all the land they occupy) for industrial use, this brings more people to the site making cafes more viable this in turn brings more GA traffic (we need good cafes) surely it’s a win win situation.
Martin