Former RAF Church Fenton
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With all due respect two years after it opened Doncaster pax figures were around 1.1 million while LBA's were around 2.8. At that time that was not 'struggling' so the pax must have come from somewhere other than this mythical 'catchment' area. But nowhere, unless it is London, is going to get an airport if that is all the benefit it is going to be. Doncaster only came on the back of funding secured through a huge regeneration programme affecting far more than the airport. What would it cost to open up Church Fenton for civil aviation and how would it be funded? I have no problem with it being public funds if it benefits more than the pax and airport owners, and the development associated with DSA really does that.
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With all due respect two years after it opened Doncaster pax figures were around 1.1 million while LBA's were around 2.8. At that time that was not 'struggling' so the pax must have come from somewhere other than this mythical 'catchment' area. But nowhere, unless it is London, is going to get an airport if that is all the benefit it is going to be. Doncaster only came on the back of funding secured through a huge regeneration programme affecting far more than the airport. What would it cost to open up Church Fenton for civil aviation and how would it be funded? I have no problem with it being public funds if it benefits more than the pax and airport owners, and the development associated with DSA really does that.
Last edited by LEEDS APPROACH; 8th Jan 2015 at 17:11. Reason: spelling
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Normally I would agree but I think the Yorkshire region is a little bit different. 5.3 million people live here more than the population of Scotland. Literally millions of passengers travel over the hill from Yorkshire Lincolnshire and also the NE who would also benefit greatly from a developed airport at Church Fenton.
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Well other than the man that has bought it which you can google, I would think some big company that can see the clear medium long term potential. If someone was willing to invest in finningley then Church fenton is a cert. A company that would like to take 8million passengers off local competitor airports. Once established it would only go in one direction because of its location.
The main stumbling block for a potential airport at Church Fenton is politics not roads and runways.
The main stumbling block for a potential airport at Church Fenton is politics not roads and runways.
If you were starting with a blank piece of paper Church Fenton, would be a good place to start - but your not, LBA is 25 miles away, Manchester 75 miles, Finningley 40 miles
I'd be very surprised if Chris Makins got the money - it would need some very "brave" investors to give it a go.
I'd be very surprised if Chris Makins got the money - it would need some very "brave" investors to give it a go.
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The only thing which would make me think this could have legs would be if the value of Yeadon for housing development approached its value in its current use. Then you might have the basis of a deal with Bridgepoint.
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LeedsApproach I almost agree with you ... after all in 2007 the year I mentioned 4 million people flew from Yorkshire Airports ... but Peel didn't just invest in DSA and didn't use all their own money doing it. They've bought up a lot of land around the airport and along the path of the Link Road to and from the 'Railport' or whatever its latest name is. There was always more in it for Peel than the airport ... maybe a lot more. And that is what would need to happen around Church Fenton for any private investor to think about it. They'd need to be sure of getting their money back somehow, just in case!
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Church Fenton: the new Yeadon?
The point is, that like the estuary airport, that ship sailed decades ago.
First, Leeds and the surrounding area cannot support another "second" airport, especially when its current second airport is as big and busy as Ringway.
Second, Church Fenton is not a good business proposition as long as Yeadon stays open.
Third, Yeadon cannot be closed without shareholders' agreement as it's privately owned. Shades of Heathrow v. Boris.
Fourth, the railway to Church Fenton can also be the railway to Ringway.
Fifth, the risible idea of Yeadon and Church Fenton competing brings up images of two bald men fighting over a comb.
Unfortunate, perhaps, as in theory, Church Fenton looks a good site with advantages over Yeadon. If starting from scratch Church Fenton could be a goer, but we're not, so it isn't.
First, Leeds and the surrounding area cannot support another "second" airport, especially when its current second airport is as big and busy as Ringway.
Second, Church Fenton is not a good business proposition as long as Yeadon stays open.
Third, Yeadon cannot be closed without shareholders' agreement as it's privately owned. Shades of Heathrow v. Boris.
Fourth, the railway to Church Fenton can also be the railway to Ringway.
Fifth, the risible idea of Yeadon and Church Fenton competing brings up images of two bald men fighting over a comb.
Unfortunate, perhaps, as in theory, Church Fenton looks a good site with advantages over Yeadon. If starting from scratch Church Fenton could be a goer, but we're not, so it isn't.
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Better located than Finningley yes but airport infrastructure is expensive. Runways Terminals car parks ILS radar etc etc. Fenton main is 6000 ft Finningley nearly 10000ft, LBA has 7380ft. So the cost of bringing the runway up to speed is already high. You would have to buy the extra land for all this too. This is not going to happen unless the funding comes from more than one place. Better to develop the links to LBA as was promised when the airport was sold. Leeds council took the money and used it in central Leeds not on supporting the established airport they sold. Time the found the money to help Bridgepoint grow LBA. Yeah right...
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I felt it was about time that someone came on and gave LEEDS APPROACH a helping hand on this one. The vast majority of what he says is correct.
To develop LBA sufficiently so as to overcome its wrongly aligned runway and negate the 'big dipper' effect on it would cost a fortune and may even be impractical due to the lay of the land at one end of the runway and the Chevin at the other end.
The local Councils have spoken about relocating the airport although I suspect that what they have said are just words with absolutely no substance behind them. They have also just given planning permission for a substantial number of new homes close to the airport. I imagine that given the opportunity to get their hands on the whole of the LBA site for development (at the right price of course) they would jump at the chance.
Yes the challenges of putting together a package to develop Church Fenton as an alternative airport would be immense but it could work and it would certainly, once developed, be a very suitable alternative to LBA and provide a sustainable alternative which would suit the needs of the region for the foreseeable future. You never know, with a fair wind and everyone pulling in the same direction, those pigs might fly one day.
To develop LBA sufficiently so as to overcome its wrongly aligned runway and negate the 'big dipper' effect on it would cost a fortune and may even be impractical due to the lay of the land at one end of the runway and the Chevin at the other end.
The local Councils have spoken about relocating the airport although I suspect that what they have said are just words with absolutely no substance behind them. They have also just given planning permission for a substantial number of new homes close to the airport. I imagine that given the opportunity to get their hands on the whole of the LBA site for development (at the right price of course) they would jump at the chance.
Yes the challenges of putting together a package to develop Church Fenton as an alternative airport would be immense but it could work and it would certainly, once developed, be a very suitable alternative to LBA and provide a sustainable alternative which would suit the needs of the region for the foreseeable future. You never know, with a fair wind and everyone pulling in the same direction, those pigs might fly one day.
There's the germ of a plan here. While Fenton's runway is shorter than Yeadon's it's into wind and nearer sea level. IIRC it's also on flat ground with space for extension, at least at the NE end. The villages of Church Fenton and Barkston Ash would be badly affected by noise though - mostly landing. Also. looking at map, I don't think the Castleford/Wakefield etc area would escape take off noise either.
Trying to effect the change 'commercially' is a non starter though. It would have to be done as matter of government policy like Belfast (Nutts Corner to Aldergrove) or Glasgow (Renfrew to Abbotsinch).
Whether, even given the political will and appetite, such a move would be possible in world of EU and soon TTIP is another question.
Trying to effect the change 'commercially' is a non starter though. It would have to be done as matter of government policy like Belfast (Nutts Corner to Aldergrove) or Glasgow (Renfrew to Abbotsinch).
Whether, even given the political will and appetite, such a move would be possible in world of EU and soon TTIP is another question.
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The point is, that like the estuary airport, that ship sailed decades ago.
First, Leeds and the surrounding area cannot support another "second" airport, especially when its current second airport is as big and busy as Ringway.
Second, Church Fenton is not a good business proposition as long as Yeadon stays open.
Third, Yeadon cannot be closed without shareholders' agreement as it's privately owned. Shades of Heathrow v. Boris.
Fourth, the railway to Church Fenton can also be the railway to Ringway.
Fifth, the risible idea of Yeadon and Church Fenton competing brings up images of two bald men fighting over a comb.
Unfortunate, perhaps, as in theory, Church Fenton looks a good site with advantages over Yeadon. If starting from scratch Church Fenton could be a goer, but we're not, so it isn't.
First, Leeds and the surrounding area cannot support another "second" airport, especially when its current second airport is as big and busy as Ringway.
Second, Church Fenton is not a good business proposition as long as Yeadon stays open.
Third, Yeadon cannot be closed without shareholders' agreement as it's privately owned. Shades of Heathrow v. Boris.
Fourth, the railway to Church Fenton can also be the railway to Ringway.
Fifth, the risible idea of Yeadon and Church Fenton competing brings up images of two bald men fighting over a comb.
Unfortunate, perhaps, as in theory, Church Fenton looks a good site with advantages over Yeadon. If starting from scratch Church Fenton could be a goer, but we're not, so it isn't.
My real annoyance is with your 'that ship has sailed' attitude. In aviation terms the Yorkshire 'ship' hasn't even got out of port and probably resembles that ship in the solent right now. As we go forward into the next 20, 40, 60 years the population of Yorkshire with its big cities and large area of attractive living land in North / East Yorkshire will surge past 6 million and therefore maket forces will demand an airport that can do the job and doesn't require 1-2 hour train journey. If everyone can work together for the greater good of all Yorkshire people then an airport at Church Fenton should be at least begun immediately.
In slight support of LEEDS APPROACH....
Looks like 24/06 could be extended to around 2700m - upto the York/Doncaster rail line to the east of the field. However comma the room available for 34/16 would accommodate 3000m which would be a useful strip. Closing Yeadon would be a blow (as I'm Leeds born and bred) but a properly funded and designed international airport at 'Fenton might just work...
Looks like 24/06 could be extended to around 2700m - upto the York/Doncaster rail line to the east of the field. However comma the room available for 34/16 would accommodate 3000m which would be a useful strip. Closing Yeadon would be a blow (as I'm Leeds born and bred) but a properly funded and designed international airport at 'Fenton might just work...
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ps more diversions this morning from LBA!
Still pretty breezy at Yeadon. The Easy flight from GVA has just landed but the slightly earlier running J2 tried and went around twice before going to MAN.
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So did a TOM from TFS - two missed approaches in strong crosswinds before going to MAN. Both aircraft would have landed at Church Fenton no problem.
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I live in Yorkshire but quite honestly don`t give a monkeys where I fly from..Manchester,Leeds or twice this year from Liverpool..Its the price innit 
As for spending Yorkshire money(lots)..please don`t bother on my behalf I would much prefer the West Yorkshire Councils to clean the streets and fix the
potholes before they throw money at Church Fenton, which has about as much chance as a snowball in hell.......mind you thats about the same odds for getting the potholes fixed....
As for spending Yorkshire money(lots)..please don`t bother on my behalf I would much prefer the West Yorkshire Councils to clean the streets and fix the
potholes before they throw money at Church Fenton, which has about as much chance as a snowball in hell.......mind you thats about the same odds for getting the potholes fixed....