Wycombe Air Park to become a football stadium ?

[rtl_flyer]

Perhaps IF a football stadium were to be built at an existing airfield, who actually developed the site may have an effect on whether the two entities co-existed..

Cannot see aircraft being able to land and depart with Jo Public on site. Thruxton is close when public events (race days) are on - no arr/dept until crowd has cleared, not racing stopped. Prob' insurance heath & safety.

[smarthawke]

In that case, perhaps they'll be putting traffic lights to red on the M40 then every time an aircraft is on final for 24 then....

[gpn01]

There's a subtle difference between an assembly of people at a public event vs people driving. OK, so at times, it's difficult to tell the difference at the nearby motorway junction at rush hour but....

[chevvron]

Although Adams Park is an excellent modern(ish) stadium, there's plenty of room in the north west corner of WAP to build a stadium (if you displace the clay pigeon club which must create a noise nuisance itself) and still allow flying to carry on. They built a replica of Brooklands there for 'Those Magnificent Men....' and flying still carried on.
Gibraltar has a football stadium right on the edge of the airfield; Yarmouth Stock Car/greyhound track is right next to North Denes which is now a heliport but was fixed wing for many years.

[Final 3 Greens]

"This house believes a sports stadium would offer more potential activities to more community members than an aerodrome."

Does anyone wish to speak in reply to the motion?

[Plod]

I think people should remember a couple of recent successes. North Weald has been at risk for years but has survived even though it's no where near as busy as WAP. Kemble has also won a major battle against NIMBYs.
I spent a lot of happy hours at WAC during advanced training and then spent some time instructing there. It's very busy and a viable business. I would be very surprised if it is at risk.
The vast majority of pilots there are very good at complying with noise abatement routes, even if these do take you outside the ATZ when using rwy24. I'm sure that the regular complainers would be absolutely genocidal if they had to contend with the masses of the great unwashed if a football stadium were to be built there.
It's a great airfield with some wonderful people working there. Long live WAP!

[csurally]

I'm sure that a football stadium would be more appreciated and far better for all the people who live in wycombe than an airpark for the wealthy few who only turn up for a few hours flying and contribute nothing to the area.

[smarthawke]

csurally - a stunning first post from an alleged frozen ATPL (according to your profile). So how did you get to frozen ATPL - any flying in the sort of aircraft that operate from Booker...? Last time I looked WAC do a fair bit of commercial training from Booker.

'Wealthy few'? Wealthy I am certainly not. I could earn far more pennies working as a car mechanic than on GA aircraft but I enjoy my work and spending my hard earned money flying out of Booker.

Ever thought of the employment of the 100s of people employed at the air park and the money that directly brings into the area and that's apart from the 100s of pilots who fly at Booker and therefore more money into the area - oh and many of them live in the neighbourhood too.

Back to the other point - who said the two couldn't exist together IF the idea became any more than a rumour?

[Airbus Girl]

For at least the last 20 years there have been rumours of The End of Wycombe Air Park. About 20 years ago WAP was the 3rd busiest airfield in the UK (based on number of movements) and the airfield has been there since the war. The two main problems it has are:

1. It is owned by the council
2. People keep moving into houses next to the airfield and then complaining that there are noisy aircraft flying out of the airfield that they just moved next to.

The last good rumour, that had been going for about 20 years, prior to the new football stadium rumour, was that the airfield was going to be closed and turned into a housing estate, because there is so much green belt land around High Wycombe that couldn't be built on. The other potential was for the M40 motorway service station to be built on the corner of the airfield.

These rumours didn't become fact.

Seeing that there is already a good football stadium in High Wycombe, and a sports complex and that Airways Aero Associations pay a stash of cash to the council for the lease, I can't really see it happening.

I also think that anyone who moved near to the airfield in the last 60 years and then has the cheek to complain about the aircraft noise should be banned from anyone taking them seriously.

Long live Booker!!!!

[trafficcontrol]

I hate the way Aircraft Noise is always targeted and used as an excuse when people my age, drive round in their "imitation high performance cars" which make more noise than a bloody pa28 at times!

As for Adams park to move, I do go frequently, as well as flying from booker....The ground is never filled, the industrial estates get alot of benifit from renting out parking space, and wycombe is one of the nicest airfields in the country.....WITH a Tower too!! Would be a great shame....

I honestly don't believe anything will happen though.

[A and C]

The story has very little substance to it mostly being overblown rubbish invented by the Bucks Free Press to fill the front page on a slow news week.

[gpn01]

Hopefuly you're right. Alternatively it could be that someone is spinning a plausible yarn that is going to make whatever is actually announced appear somewhat less worse....

[horizon flyer]

The problem is mainly Helicopter noise which has increased in the last 10 years and as they us a very low circuit hieght, 700ft it upsets the locals.
If the same procedure was followed as Denham, that is use the same procedures as fixed wing it would help cut noise.

The anti Booker groups are run buy some very powerful people.
Booker will go if they do not change their ways soon.

First get rid of Captain Orchard better know as Captain ackward, he a pain in the arse and is upsetting the locals. Need someone good at dealing with people.

I think it is a Rugby stadium the want to build not football.

And lastly the police are investigating the shooting of a helicopter with what looks like a 308 rifle from the hole in it. Thats why the last meeting excluded the public, scared some would come in and shot Orchard.

The police have not found who did it yet, so you may get more than you bargained for, fly in to Booker, be warned.

[B Fraser]

A rugby stadium ? It's London Wasps and not Wycombe Wasps.

I doubt that Adams Park (or Wycombe) is really their preferred choice of venue as it is often filled to capacity which in turn, puts a cap on their match day revenue. There should be a sizeable London stadium available in the third quarter of 2012 with excellent transport links, plenty of seats and proximity to a huge fan base.

[smarthawke]

Horizon Flyer - beware, a little knowledge can be so dangerous. Where are you based? No 177RGs based at Booker.

Lovely day today, lots of flying at Booker and no anti-aircraft guns about....

[horizon flyer]

Yes Smarthawke a little kownledge can be dangerous. I am just telling you all, Booker will go if they do not listen to the general public. I believe the lease is up in 4 years and only costs approx £50,000 a year, yet the commercial value of the land area would indicate £500,000 a year is the correct price. The main noise problem are Helicopters (R22s are bad) and aircraft with proptips that go supersonic (Redbull team and 177RGs are an example). The defence, that aircraft are operating inside the law does not stop the public in the area around, being very upset. Denham is a good expample of a responsible airfield that takes noise complaints seriously, even if you are in side the law and see White Waltham for how to keep in with neighbours. There is live and let live, but the noise Booker produces is getting worse, so see the writing on the wall, read it and do something about it or loose Booker.

[smarthawke]

I rest my case....

[gpn01]

"There is live and let live, but the noise Booker produces is getting worse, so see the writing on the wall, read it and do something about it or loose Booker"

Maybe there's an opportunity for the airfield residents to start up a 'hearts and minds' campaign with the locals ? Local press has published a number of comments, the majority of which are actually in favour of the airfield. Several are quite vitriolic agauinst the 'moaning minnies' who buy a house next to an airfield and then complain of aircraft noise.

[VOR_DME]

What people in Lane end (the noise abaitment zone) don't appear to realise, is that if this does go ahead, the airfield is being moved a few hundred yards so that the extended centreline will go smack bang through the middle of lane end itself.

[smarthawke]

Not entirely sure how you work that one out, VOR DME!

Firstly who said the airfield would be moved? Secondly, if the runway was to point at Lane End, best everyone gets good with cross-wind operations given the prevailing wind.

So where did you hear that wonderful rumour from?