At a time when many airfields are being closed the pilots of East Staffs Flying Club were very pleased to hear that the owners of Tatenhill Airfield (EGBM) were looking to improve the facilities that are available.
Those of you that have visited Tatenhill will know that the current facilities are run down with the club house consisting of a small Portakabin and the administration also being in prefabricated buildings.
The landowner, working with the airfield operator (Tatenhill Aviation) and East Staffs Flying Club, have applied to the local council to knock down the current maintenance hangar, tower, admin buildings and other derelict buildings on site and replace them with a purpose built facility which will include a new tower, clubhouse, taxiway and eight hangars. These will be used for the existing maintenance and avionics business as well as providing somewhere for owners to keep their planes which, to date, have had to be left outside. The new taxiway will also mean that it will no longer be necessary to backtrack on the runway when the grass is muddy!
Since the application was submitted there has been a number of inaccurate reports in the local press suggesting that these minor improvements, which merely redress years of underinvestment, will result in the airfield being used for passenger or freight operations despite the fact that there are no landing aids, and is too close to East Midlands to be financially viable. The owner and operator have tried to communicate that they are only seeking to improve the facilities for General Aviation. However, there have been a significant number of concerns raised by locals generated by this misinformation and the council seem minded to decline the application which is a pity as the airfield generally has good relations with its neighbours and there are minimal complaints.
At a planning hearing last Monday a decision on whether the application would be permitted was deferred and there is therefore the opportunity to lobby the council as to the value of the improvements. In reality they need to be “educated” and to appreciate the strategic value of GA both to the local economy and to the UK as a whole. We have a few days in which we can generate some additional support to counter the misinformation that has been spread. We would therefore be grateful if you could email or write to the council to express your personal views and support for this application. Every letter or email will help to redress the balance so please spend a few minutes assisting us.
The planning officer of the council, Katy Craddock, who is co-ordinating this can be contacted by email at
[email protected]
Or by post:
Planning Officer
East Staffordshire Borough
Council
Town Hall
Burton Upon Trent
Staffordshire
DE14 2EB
Many thanks in anticipation and please remember that the Tatenhill Fly-in is being held on 29th July 2006 and you are most welcome to attend. Again information is posted on our website.
Angus Stewart
East Staffs Flying Club
www.esfc.org.uk