Sywell Runway approved at long last!
 

The Sywell runway plan has been given the go-ahead

The controversial proposals for the runway have finally been given the go-ahead following a nine-year campaign by residents top block the developments, and £1 million investment by the aerodrome's operators to secure permission

A report issued by the DfT confirmed the runway can be built and concluded that there is no reason for planners to alter their application by reducing its length, denying calls from campaigners that it would have a detrimental impact on the area.


In the final report, DfT spokesman Peter Kember said: "The inspector recommended that the appeal be allowed and planning permission granted subject to conditions.

"It was suggested that the scope of the appeal application be "cut down" and that the paved runway should be reduced in length and width and relocated further from the village, but the Secretaries of State agree with the Inspector's reasoning and conclusion, and consider that there is no clear evidential justification for the grant of permission for something less than the development applied for."


:)

Excellent news!
 

The best bit of GA news in a long time. :D

Delighted to hear that one of my favourite GA airfields has finally beaten the NIMBY's and will be able to tackle the winter water logging problem. :ok:

Hurrah!
 

Jolly good show!

Reckon it would be even better if permission was granted to flatten a few nimbys houses too. :E:E:E

I'll have to come along and make use of it.

Fantastic, a win for once.

Just as long as it doesn't end up for VLJ's only and SEP's are unwelcome.....

The Dft's spokepersonage - Peter Kember?:eek:

He gets everywhere.:D:

Hope he and BB get on - that'll be a 1st.:{

But, hey hats off to the lot of them. Not many RWYs get pp these days.

And the last time I landed at Sywell the ground run was not a lot.

Sir George Cayley

pitty mbb is doing his best to destroy the flying club with silly demands re : £ 500 etc :mad::ugh::ugh::ugh:
has soooooo much potential :bored:

Many moons ago MBB's dog known to us as Charlie Brown used to sh*t on our lawn in Sywell village.
Attempts to get him to resolve the issue came to nought.

Eventually the wife got p*ss*ed off, collected a shovel full and deposited it on his desk
at the airfield.

We never missed that village after we moved.

That is bloody brilliant news! Well done to all involved... suppose I'll have to contend with the fix wingers on wet days now too :)!

It was nice having the field to ourselves when it was waterlogged, and hearing the RT "airfield closed to fixed wing".. but so unfair on the fixed wing guys - it is a brilliant airfield, very friendly and excellent facilities.

Can't wait for them to get started on it. :ok:

As for MBB, had no interaction with the man myself - but there appears to be no shortage of rumours / aggrieved people floating about. However... he has fought hard for the runway and got it, something he should be thanked for.

Very friendly? On what planet..............

Do we start on the cash grabs from peoples credit cards without permission, the fact the BB has the most deep seated dislike of ordinary people who he sees as beneath him. Thinks he comes from landed gentry.

Or the rude arrogance of his staff who think it acceptable to physically abuse a visitor on a weather diversion (myself and student).

Having visited Sywell on numerous occasions, I must say that my experience has always been positive with polite, friendly and helpful staff. That's one reason why I was particularly pleased to find that they have got permission for a hard runway.

The facilities are second to none, but of course being a visiting pilot I wouldn't know about internal politics.

I'd be intrigued to hear how a weather diversion culminated in "physical abuse" - presumably the assault was reported to the police? Sounds like far more than a 'bad hair day'.

I was physically attacked by the fireman/refueller at Sywell in front of my student and numerous other witnesses including a poster on this thread.

The fireman even called a number of the people who saw it to ask if they thought he was out of order!

Personally I could not care if the place vanished into a black hole.
:O

Sywell Runway
 

Seems Bose-X has a grudge against us here at Sywell, nothing to do with the fact you were (and still are) banned from the airfield by any chance, not to mention Leicester aswell ??!!

Despite what you say, we ARE a friendly airfield as many kind words exchanged on various forums and by those who visit us prove. I have been ATC Manager at Sywell for 3 years now, after 28 years in the RAF as an ATCO, and we have favourable comments on the airfield and it's facilities every day. Any visitor this year will have seen what is on offer at Sywell, I won't list all the successful events we have held, or the variety of aircraft on offer, the proof is in the satisfied customers.

As for recent personal smear campaigns against Sywell staff, well that just goes to confirm your anti-Sywell attitude. Instead of listening to the negative attitude to this sad individual, why not visit us and see for yourself what a great airfield Sywell is.

What GA does not need are people like you with such a negativity.

Exactly 40 years ago I nearly killed myself hauling a Prentice over the hedge at the end of Sywell's short, soggy, badly mowed grass runway, teetering on a stall. It was my first flight in the under-powered wreck, which I had just bought at Shackletons for £700. I never went back there.

I can recall muttering "Time they got a decent runway".

Well done, Sywell, I'm glad someone was listening.

Don't worry about people calling you rude; it can't be worse than that dreadful character in the Sywell tower in those days.

Sywell all-weather runway
 

As a relatively new resident to Sywell (and not a NIMBY). I am nevertheless concerned over the hard runway - a balanced view probably reflected by other residents - I appreciate the various arguments in terms of safety and utilisation, however now that the decision has been made, I optimistically hope that the general character and relatively peaceful nature of the village will not change.

I don't personally think that demolishing a few NIMBY's houses is a very helpful comment even if only meant in jest(?).

- I've been up in a microlight myself from Sywell and greatly enjoyed the experience (i.e. you can see my house from here!) and both myself and family enjoy seeing the current aircraft and microlights flying overhead. - However as a non flyer, does anyone know what sort of aircraft I can expect to be flying overhead in the future given the increased capacity both in numbers and size of aircraft i.e. when I'm in the garden with family and friends am I going to spill my pint?

Sorry, I have to ask, why on earth did the fireman attack you?

Localresident - first of all I was very pleased to read that you enjoyed your flying, I'm sure that relations between 'them and us' would be much easier if people understood what light aircraft flying is all about by having the chance to experience it themselves.

The vast majority of pilots do everything they can to minimise any noise nuisance to those on the ground and where it is safe to do so aircraft are routed away from habitation.

With quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft gradually entering the light aircraft fleet, most of us expect the situation to improve over the coming years, so the chances of spilling your drink will be significantly reduced!

Strange no one mentioned I was banned from Leicester while at the Pilots supper last weekend nor while renewing my membership. Better get your facts right before you start gobbing off Mr Bell.

The fireman attacked me for being on the airfield when as Mr Bell rightly points out I am banned. The fact that attacking me was a little immature and that the reason I was there was a WEATHER DIVERSION with a STUDENT seemed to evade him. Not exactly what you would call good manners around a student is it? And a smear would be spreading something untrue like insinuating I am banned from Leicester. There were at least SIX witnesses to the event and said fireman even called at least two of them to admit he was out of order!!

But they do say that those with limited intelligence always resort to violence when they run out of things to say.

I will also point out that I have tried to reasonable and hold out the olive branch to the management. And for the record the reason I was banned was for writing in support of NSF during there troubles and subsequent eviction by the management. Apparantly BB is very sensitive about anyone making critical comments about him and so it seems are his staff...........

Bose-X I am really sorry you have had a bad time with Sywell in the past, and by the sound of it won't be using the new runway too often - in my original post I was sticking to the "speak as you find" principle.

I trained at Sywell and still fly from there (SFH from Sloanes); and everyone at the airfield - and in The Aviator - have been nothing but brilliant to me; especially Mr. Bell (although we have never met formally).

Putting your issues with Sywell / theres with you aside, this news is a very rare good news story for GA generally and especially for Sywell - I am sure on that we can at least agree.

Lets hope it sets is the start of some more sensible thinking from those responsible for our planning laws!

Sywell Runway
 

If the information I was given about BoseX and Leicester is incorrect, then I apologise.

In relation to the events of recent years, for example the closing of Ipswich, the hassles Mark Jeffries had at Little Gransden, and the ridiculous restrictions at Turweston, I was angered that the petty personal vendetta of one individual against Sywell should overshadow what is a major victory for GA.

Thank you to those individuals who have been positive, and look forward to see you at Sywell in the future.

This is excellent news for UK GA.

Particularly interesting is the DfT backing. At the Nov 2006 CAA London conference the DfT man (who was no wimp) said that they would work for a change in planning law to enable new GA airfields to be created, knowing that they can't stop property developers from gradually closing down the existing ones. Maybe this is an example of this policy, which would be truly great news.

I've never been to Sywell - it's too cold "up norff" :)