THE group fighting to keep Lee-on-Solent open to General Aviation says the field has a great future as a thriving local aerodrome – and that it is determined to work with Hampshire Police who are behind the current closure row.

The Lee Flying Association is campaigning to prevent the closure of the airfield to GA, which site managers Hampshire Police say is necessary because of Health and Safety concerns. Critics say there is no such concern, and the police are simply trying to extricate themselves from the responsibility of running an aerodrome with 90 years of flying history.

But the LFA say they are happy to take on the task of managing Lee-on-Solent, otherwise known as Daedalus, and sustain the site as a viable centre of GA as well as helping grow it in the future – all in co-operation with local residents who are fully behind them.

LFA spokesman Steve Cockshott said, “It has been perceived by the Hampshire Police that we are in opposition to them, and we are not. We are actively looking to work with them, and be part of a future GA operation. The police look like they don’t want to do it, and say they are not funded for it.

“We have the expertise and skills to run the site, skills that no-one expects the police to have as it is not in their remit, and we are completely willing to get involved with the management of the site.

We are a solution to a problem, not part of it.” Late last month the LFA won a one-month stay of execution for the slated closure of the site to GA traffic, and are pressing for a judicial review of the police decision to bar GA traffic.

Cockshott explained, “We have had absolutely no contact from the police about this. They have conducted all their communication with us via press releases. Only in response to Freedom of Information enquiries have we had anything directly from them.

“They are saying that we ‘rushed to law’ but the reality is it was our last resort. Judicial reviews can only consider cases when they are called within three months of the protested decision. The police have told no-one when they actually decided to shut Daedalus, so we had to move fast in that regard. We really do not see ourselves as opposition to the police but as potential partners.” The row has seen considerable support swing behind the LFA, from local residents, to the local and broader aviation community, and politically.

The matter has been raised with the Government in the Houses of Parliament by local MPs, and drawn extensive coverage in the media. Cockshott said, “Local residents are very much with us, which is tremendously heartening. We would love to see the site develop, as it would help locally in terms of employment and tourism, but only so far as the local community supports it. We absolutely would not introduce things that were unsupported. As it is the two circuits are both over water over unpopulated areas, and that would not change.

“The ‘official’ figures imply that there are some 38,000 movements on the site, but if you take out the 20,000+ of the Portsmouth Navy Gliding Club, and also police and rescue flights, you are at a number of around 10-15 a day for GA. We are always going to be low impact.” The situation is changing almost by the day.

The first stay of execution is likely to be bolstered by further legal intervention – as LOOP went to press there may have been a further delay.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
If you want to help the Daedalus battle, go to the LFA campaign site www.eghf.co.uk and there are details on how you can get involved, or contribute to a High Court fund.

LEE-ON-SOLENT isn't the only airfield in the news.
The team behind Kemble Airfield went to a public inquiry on 27 November prepared for a major battle with Cotswold District Council only to be faced with "a farce".
The planning inspector told the Council that its enforcement notice was incorrect and it had to be withdrawn. The blunder meant the inquiry had to closed four days early with no conclusion.
The Council said it would serve a new notice but airfield officials hope to meet with the Council and resolve the issues.

Sywell Airfield has finally got the OK to build a hard runway. It follows a determined fight by local residents to block the £1 million development. Sywell's main reason for building a hard runway is to allow all-year operations, currently restricted in winter due to waterlogging of the grass surface.

Oxford Airport has started work on a new business aviation terminal, due for completion next summer. The new building will triple the floor space of the established GA terminal with a crisp, modern design. Separate lounges will be provided for crews including additional rest areas, along with VIP and 'VVIP' zones.

Wycombe Air Park (also called Booker) has been sold by British Airways to hotelier Surinder Arora, who learned to fly at British Airways Flying Club based there.
Tim Orchard, managing director of BAFC, said, "Arora will embrace the general aviation scene at Booker with a number of exciting expansion plans.

"The airfield's current refurbishment programme will continue. The list of recently completed major projects (a new Control Tower, a new runway surface, new runway lighting and replacement hangars) will be used as a springboard for future development. Several exciting new ventures are being discussed, each of which will bring new life and more growth to the airfield."

Turweston Aerodrome won a small victory in the first part of an extended planning inquiry recently. It has permission from the planning inspector to stage six events per year. Costs were awarded against Aylesbury Vale District Council.

Second part of the inquiry takes place in January 2008, when a whole range of other matters will be considered including a new building intended to be the headquarters of the Popular Flying Association.
A Certificate of Lawful Use has been granted to Hampstead Norris Aerodrome, Berks (better known as the Compton VOR), and a 300-metre runway extension at Monewden Aerodrome, Suffolk given the OK. Planning expert Peter Kember was involved in many of these approvals.