Kemble Under Threat
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 325
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From: UK
Kemble Under Threat
Yet another airfield proposed for housing development!
Local radio and papers anounced plans to build 2000 homes on Kemble Airport
Now we know what the men in suits were doing!
Local radio and papers anounced plans to build 2000 homes on Kemble Airport
Now we know what the men in suits were doing!
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 814
Likes: 52
From: Lechlade, Glos.UK
Yes I read the article in Flyer and followed it up on the Internet. I find this absolutely amazing. The owner, and others (incl me) waged quite a campaign only a few months ago to retain planning consent for Kemble to remain an operating airfield. And we won.
Moreover, Kemble is not some minor grass aerodrome with a small flying club. There are at least 5 flying clubs there and many other flying associated businesses incl Midair. The proposed developer states that by building 2500 houses (yes really!), shops and playing fields will bring jobs, yet it does not mention the hundreds of jobs lost and vast revenue to the local area. I was in the AV8 yesterday and it was heaving. Total madness.
And what about that lovely Britannia... it would have to be cut up
Moreover, Kemble is not some minor grass aerodrome with a small flying club. There are at least 5 flying clubs there and many other flying associated businesses incl Midair. The proposed developer states that by building 2500 houses (yes really!), shops and playing fields will bring jobs, yet it does not mention the hundreds of jobs lost and vast revenue to the local area. I was in the AV8 yesterday and it was heaving. Total madness.
And what about that lovely Britannia... it would have to be cut up
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 55
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From: Beechy Bucks
We really shouldn't be granting the oxygen of publicity to this totally speculative venture, by a group of developers who have no rights or ownership of the land for which they have announced 'plans'.
The local LibDems have naively jumped on the bandwagon, hoping to win votes from constituents in another area which has been named in the local planning strategy as more appropriate for housing. The so-called 'new development' is just a paperwork exercise with no planning permission and no external scrutiny of its viability.
The REAL owner, Ronan Harvey, has invested heavily in Kemble Airport in recent years and has a number of lucrative tenants from both inside and outside the aviation world. I find it hard to believe that these smoke and mirrors merchants would raise sufficient capital to engage his interest in their loopy ideas.
The local LibDems have naively jumped on the bandwagon, hoping to win votes from constituents in another area which has been named in the local planning strategy as more appropriate for housing. The so-called 'new development' is just a paperwork exercise with no planning permission and no external scrutiny of its viability.
The REAL owner, Ronan Harvey, has invested heavily in Kemble Airport in recent years and has a number of lucrative tenants from both inside and outside the aviation world. I find it hard to believe that these smoke and mirrors merchants would raise sufficient capital to engage his interest in their loopy ideas.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 80
From: White Waltham, Prestwick & Calgary
There may be interference from higher levels than the local council, as has been happening at Wellesbourne (see Pilot magazine some months ago). The government want more houses, it would appear.
Phil
Phil
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 170
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From: Back in the UK again.
Unfortunately, smoke and mirrors is how this game is played.
My local airport (major regional one) is busy promoting as an airport but, in truth, the owners want to turn the whole thing into an industrial park because it is worth more money that way. They will not admit that but the outline plans are there for anyone bothered to look (as I was hoping to invest in a business on the airport, I did).
Because few airfields or airports are safe from developers, aviation is in a precarious position. All thanks to being designated as Brownfield by a Labour Government. The only safe bets are Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester where I doubt anyone will want to turn them into a new home for Lidl, Asda and a new Honda factory. I bet any other airport or airfield owner would sell to a developer if the price was right, especially when you look at the accounts of some of these airport operators, some are on a financial knife-edge as it is.
My local airport (major regional one) is busy promoting as an airport but, in truth, the owners want to turn the whole thing into an industrial park because it is worth more money that way. They will not admit that but the outline plans are there for anyone bothered to look (as I was hoping to invest in a business on the airport, I did).
Because few airfields or airports are safe from developers, aviation is in a precarious position. All thanks to being designated as Brownfield by a Labour Government. The only safe bets are Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester where I doubt anyone will want to turn them into a new home for Lidl, Asda and a new Honda factory. I bet any other airport or airfield owner would sell to a developer if the price was right, especially when you look at the accounts of some of these airport operators, some are on a financial knife-edge as it is.
