I have now received a reply from the Science Museum. Would you believe that:
"In October 2001 the Museum's environmental management consultants prepared a health and safety compliance audit report for the site, including runways and roadways. Their assessment was that wear of the runway tarmac was such as to cause vehicles to become unstable particularly if driven at high speeds. This left us with no alternative but to re-assess the risks involved in any motorised or flying activity on the site. The developing idea of removing the runways is therefore not as a result of
an agenda to prevent flying, but to make the best uses of the museum's resources. A review of long-term options for the site, endorsed by the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum on 22 November 2001 indicated that future events were subject to health and safety considerations. Accordingly, no further events are now permitted."
So - it would seem that their own consultants decided the fate of the runways. How very convenient for them to hide behind the wretched Health and Safety excuse - and how very convenient for their future plans for their 'consultants' to have made such findings.......
If there was any justice, the local MP should intervene and call for any plans for the removal of the runways to be stopped pending an independent assessment of their condition and the contribution which a revived aerodrome would provide to the local community.
But no. Doubtless no-one will bother and these blasted tree-huggers will get their way............