Not a waste of time. Far from it. The airfield was due to close on safety grounds. Now its "open". And due to close again no Dec 14. Aviation safety just isn't as 'pick and choose' as that. The safety case has to be shared, not withheld.
Aviation safety data is being withheld from aviators!? By the police!? Who then say, use at your own risk!? WOW!!
As one councillor is reported as saying in the press: if the deadline can be extended once, it can be extended again. Indeed a request for a SECOND extension has already been made. At the Hampshire Police Authority meeting yesterday. The Chief Constable undertook to consider the request with his legal advisor.
It is perhaps beginning to look like the *real* "safety issue" *might* really be an internal wrangle between government departments as to who should have done, or do, what to ensure safety and airfield operations to an appropriate standard -regardless of what aviation activites occur there.
That the businesses, jobs, expressed will of the people, their representatives, public consultation results, joint planning statements, an invaluable airfiled resource, community relations, Ministerial visits , ..., all go hang while some sort of wrangling goes on seems to be of little consequence to those involved in it.
Whoever they are they seem unable to appreciate how achieveable a win-win result is for everybody, if they could step back and take a fresh perspective.
Perhaps it is time for the Secretary for Transport get involved, along with the leaders of whatever other government departments need to assist in appointing an aviation regulator for the airfield.