Fairoaks update

[chevvron]

A presentation of the proposals by the developer is to be held in Chobham Village Hall over the weekend 24/25 Feb. This will include a limited number of bus trips to the airport to show (brainwash) people what they expect to do.
It has been siuggested this might be a good time for a visit to Fairoaks to show how popular it can be for recreational flyers.
There will be a follow up at the same venue on wed 1 Mar to detail the proposals after comments from the weekend presentations.

[Arw82]

Let's get a flyin organised ! The cafe does a brilliant all day breakfast

[cambioso]

I will most certainly come (I wish to support Fairoaks any way I can having used it for over 30 years!).
What would you like Chevvie the RV8 or the Citation Mustang - your call!!
Jez.

[mothminor]

Having gained my ppl there in 1973 (Fairoaks Aero Club), it certainly was a beautiful airfield.
J.J.

[chevvron]

Fairoaks presentation times at Chobham Village Hall are:-
Fri 24 Feb - 1.45pm to 5pm
Sat 25 Feb - 10.45am to 4 pm

[chevvron]

I will most certainly come (I wish to support Fairoaks any way I can having used it for over 30 years!).
What would you like Chevvie the RV8 or the Citation Mustang - your call!!
Jez.
Well the Mustang would have most imnpact.......

[cambioso]

Too late to reply Chevvron (8 days!).
It is going into maintenance now over that date.
Sorry, I could have delayed it (and positioned via Fairoaks) but not now.
Jez.

[Stuart2348]

Released this evening...

Fairoaks Garden Village | SURREY HEATH (http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/news/fairoaks-garden-village)

[mothminor]

As Fairoaks has been an airfield since at least 1931 and played an important part in the training of pilots during ww11, it should have a preservation order slapped on it.


Such an order may have prevented the cretins wrecking the place in the 70`s.:hmm:

[noflynomore]

What happened to the preservation order then? Did it expire later on? If it was based on a valid argument than surely it can be revived?
What was the threat in the '70s? I lived nearby at the time and wasn't aware of nhting untoward going on.

[TheOddOne]

'They' put in a hard runway so the aerodrome could be used in the Winter months. Not what I'd call wrecking the place. Doug Arnold flying his Harvard on Sunday mornings (allegedly) didn't endear the place to the locals, perhaps some are having their revenge, now.

TOO

[mothminor]

Fairoaks Aerodrome had natural drainage.
The runway(s) were defined by movable markers to even out the wear.
When D.A. arrived he didn`t like the "hump" in the runway and moved many tons of soil to flatten it.
The result was a runway which couldn`t cope with heavy aircraft using it in winter months.
For " safety reasons" planning for a hard runway was approved. Along with restrictions on number of movements, which I understand have reduced steadily over the years.
His Sunday morning play with the Harvard didn`t help
The rest of the grass was taken out of use including the north/south runway.


I still pop in for a coffee once a year - if I wait long enough I sometimes see an aircraft move.:rolleyes:

[TheOddOne]

Massive local opposition to any use of Wisley when Vickers let it go - even we modellers got sickened off. Great shame, as you say, good GA potential but its position between London Airport and Gatwick would have made full use of the runway problematic. It hosts the Ockham VOR (ident 'OCK'), which is used as one of the four stacks for London Airport.

I think it was used for some of the filming of the models used in 'Battle of Britain', but memory fades...

TOO

[Fly-by-Wife]

What ever happened to Wisley aerodrome?
Apart from the hangars being removed and fencing across the runway at intervals - not a great deal, really.

Up until about 3 years ago I used to walk there regularly - I've not been for a while because of being busy, so I don't know what's happened in the last few years (if anything).

I can not imagine the roads around Fairoaks could handle the traffic created by a massive sub division.

Couldn't agree more. Those that objected to having an aerodrome with its associated green space and relative peace & quiet will probably not be too pleased when 15 hundred homes are built there instead, with the associated disruption, traffic etc..

I will be very sad to see Fairoaks go, as it's where I learnt to fly, and is the nearest airfield for me.

FBW

[wigglyamp]

Massive local opposition to any use of Wisley when Vickers let it go - even we modellers got sickened off. Great shame, as you say, good GA potential but its position between London Airport and Gatwick would have made full use of the runway problematic. It hosts the Ockham VOR (ident 'OCK'), which is used as one of the four stacks for London Airport.

I think it was used for some of the filming of the models used in 'Battle of Britain', but memory fades...

TOO
Wisely has an on-going planning application for housing - was refused but now appealing.
Wisley Action Group ? Say NO to a 2100-home new town in the Surrey greenbelt (http://wisleyactiongroup.co.uk)

[chevvron]

Website under construction Website is under construction (http://www.nofairoaksnewtown.uk)
The anti garden village campaign is fully supported by local preservation group 'The Chobham Society.

[Stuart2348]

Web site now open, there is an online petition i urge you all to sign... nearly 760 signatures so far.
Petitions | No Fairoaks New Town (http://nofairoaksnewtown.uk/support-petitions/)
Support is high to keep Fairoaks as an airport... please join the fight :)

Oh, sorry ...
You can also follow on Facebook & Twitter

[RO13FLY]

Signed the petition

[Stuart2348]

Right guys, the SHBC protect Fairoaks petition is just live. It is not inttended to compete with the Fairoaks new town petition which is already doing extremely well, but to complement it.

The difference with this one is that there are actions for SHBC associated with the number of signatures we get (we need to get to 3501, for sure)
Listed below are the Council's response criteria

Less than 100 - A response from the relevant officer
100 - 749 - A response from the relevant member of the Executive
750 - 3,499 - Referred to the Executive
3500 or more - Debated at a meeting of the Full Council
This is the wording:

"We petition SHBC not to promote or support housing development at Fairoaks but to retain it in the Greenbelt ..... This includes committing to not making a second bid for a Fairoaks Garden Village. SHBC should instead encourage airport operations at Fairoaks with their associated local employment opportunities."

Petition to: not promote or support housing development at Fairoaks but to retain it in the Greenbelt | SURREY HEATH (http://petitions.surreyheath.gov.uk/ProtectFairoaks/)

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION AND SHARE IT, THANK YOU :)

[TheOddOne]

Duly signed

TOO

[The Ancient Geek]

Signed and submitted

[aligee]

Glad to help

[VictorGolf]

Signed as requested. Do AOPA, BMAA and LAA know about the petition? Might help get it past 3500 replies.

[chevvron]

Signed. Only another 3100 odd signatures to go!

[beerdrinker]

Signed and submitted

[chevvron]

'They' put in a hard runway so the aerodrome could be used in the Winter months. Not what I'd call wrecking the place. Doug Arnold flying his Harvard on Sunday mornings (allegedly) didn't endear the place to the locals, perhaps some are having their revenge, now.

TOO
That would explain the planning condition limiting the airfield to 4 runway ie fixed wing movements before 10 am on sundays (NB No such limit for helicopters!)

[chevvron]

Petition now has over 1,000 signatures

[The Ancient Geek]

A response to the petition has now been published, those who signed should have received an email.
The council heard the petition on 26 july and resolved that the petition, together with the concerns of local people, be noted but that no further action be taken at this time.

[chevvron]

They also tried to say 3,000 of the over 5,000 signatures were not valid as the persons signing did not live in the borough, however it was pointed out that Fairoaks accepts aircraft from outside the borough and even outside the UK, so these persons had a right to express an interest.
It was interesting to note that not all elected councillors had been informed of the planned development, these being the councillors representing Chobham and Ottershaw ie the most affected ones.

[VictorGolf]

I got the e-mail but live outside the area. What next?

[The Ancient Geek]

Nothing until someone submits a planning appication to develop the airfield, then the objections can start.

[tinmug]

Sorry to get political but with net migration at 1/2 million a year they have got to be housed or have a factory to work in somewhere. The government seem happy with this because it keeps the construction trade going. Soon there will be nothing left but houses & gridlocked roads.

[Romeo Tango]

In a decade or two when we are awash with quiet(ish) electric autonomous flying thingys people will miss airfields.

... but maybe a decade after that these devices will be able to take off from little public pads in cities.