Heaven forbid that there was an accident at Kenley with a glider going through this new fence placed in the middle of the peri track, you can just imagine the questions being asked at the subsequent Court of Enquiry!
Q: Why was this fence there?
A: Oh, it was to protect the NIMBY dog walkers and runners who have been so vociferous on the RAF Kenley Facebook site!
Q: Who recommended it and who approved it?
A: Well, we did Sir!
Q: Why is it in the middle of the peri track and not on common land?
A: Oh, er, we wanted to give the public somewhere safe to walk on and for them to watch the gliding close up!
Q: Surely, they have thousands and thousands of acres of public land outside of the MOD controlled airfield?
A: Ah, but they did so want to walk on this historic airfield
Q: And does that include spending thousands of pounds building a fence in the middle of the peri track of this historically important airfield. What about flight safety?
A: Oh, the walkers and runners were so angry we thought we would appease them by giving them more of the airfield to enjoy! We will be looking at moving the fence position closer to the grass to give the general public more use of the paved surface and not to follow the yellow line. Users do not also have to stick to the paved surfaces and can walk on the grass, as the grassed area outside of the paved surface (not inside) is also still available for use. Er, flight safety, we have not had time to think of that at Kenley during the four year "pause"!
Q: Was this fence and the damage to the existing peri track ever discussed with English Heritage, who in 2000, identified Kenley as “The most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived”. In 2006, the respective Councils of Croydon and Tandridge designated the airfield site as a Conservation Area.
A: Well, er, er!
You couldn't make it up! Oh, I just did.