As those who already know the situation, MSDC/Peel have clearly stated that LAC will not be granted a lease. This remains so. The figures being shuffled around to allow LAC to run the airfield on Peel's behalf are not stacking up. Maybe this can be resolved in the next couple of weeks. There remains a substantial shortfall to be made up from somewhere if LAC are to go down that route. LAC Flying School have been told to quit the Tower block.
NikNak -
You are way off track re the likely 'sale/purchase' of Barton. It was NEVER for sale and the club could therefore only exist as a tenant. It was not sold by the Manchester City Council, 51% was transferred to Peel within the MSDC. It was NEVER on the open market, it was all under the table stuff without public knowledge or involvement. In other words outsiders were not in a position to bid more that the reputed £1M Peel are said to have *paid*.
At this point in time Peel have stated that Barton will continue as an airfield after 25th March 2005 when the current LAC lease runs out, but under Peel control. How long it remains an airfield is crystal ball gazing. Probably not even Peel know that answer, as it all hinges on what is going on around the airfield and what time scale is involved with their other projects which will impact on Barton one way or another both in the short and very long term.
Barton is most certainly of immense importance to general aviation in the area. At the moment it is a little green patch in the centre of a Peel master plan. Just across the adjacent Manchester Ship Canal, to the south east, there is the huge (Peel) Trafford Centre out of town shopping complex. To
the north of the airfield the (Peel) 'Salford Forest' horse racecourse is in the planning approval stage. To the west the M62 motorway restricts development as do the HT pylon wires. Near the Barton M60 high level ship canal bridge on the approach to 32, a new rugby stadium complex now has planning approval. The Ship Canal itself has a major (Peel) scheme in the planning approval stages to the south west aimed at bringing container ships back up the ship canal as they used to many years ago. To accommodate this development new rail and road infrastructure will have to be put in place along with warehousing, marshalling yards etc. One plan shows a new rail line cutting across runway 32 boundaries. So if all or any of this becomes real in the next 5-10-20 years, then flying activities at Barton will be affected.
For the amount of money Peel and the Manchester City Council get out of Barton, both now and in the past, it is peanuts to them. It has been suggested that it has so far cost Peel £7M in fees, planning designs, environmental impact assessments, highways agency work etc. etc. on their many projects, some of which are outlined above - and so far they have little to show, indeed the council approved Salford Reds rugby stadium was another developer's plan and not the Peel application - so no return on Peel's large expenditure on that one. Apparently Peel are so narked at loosing out to the other stadium developer that they have offered huge sums to them, to halt development. The site is now ear marked for the MGM gambling casino should the first choice of location on the other side of the city be rejected.
Barton will still be around as an airfield. How the LAC restructures itself in the short time remaining before the termination of the lease in March is the big and as yet unanswered question.
As to Woodford, BAE got their fingers burnt last time they went down the GA route, by allowing Aviation Manchester Limited to set up and use the facilities. This failed miserably and ended with BAE allegedly kicking AML out after they failed to pay two years rent. For the peanuts they would get out of any GA involvement is it worth it?
Stretton may appear ideal, but this has been researched and is not viable given the terms on offer. Mr Barry Lloyd - suggest you get in an aeroplane and fly over the place! The runway was tarmaced a few years ago. Hawarden has more activity than you give credit for, problem there is you are restricted to BAE operating hours.
As to suggestions on joining together and writing to MPs etc. etc. Are you stupid? You are dealing with Manchester City Council and Peel. They may be seperate, but to all intents and purposes they are one and the same. They are working to their own (land development) agenda - aviation activities are irrelevant! The Ratepayers of Manchester have been subsidizing GA flying at Barton for decades! Now it's time to cross your fingers and hope for a happy ending.