Sibson Airfield, threatened with closure ?

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Member for

15 years 7 months

Posts: 674

Hello GA people,
I dont usually visit here but the link below has caught my attention and wondered if any GA pilots had heard the rumour.
Obviously early days and these plans can often come to nothing but think we should all be prepared to stand up and fight.

www.sibsongardenvillage.com

regards Paul

Original post

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

You've put your finger on the problem - not many, if any, are 'prepared to stand up and fight'.

If you could organize the collective will of the thousands who use these pages, there would be few pre-ordained outcomes.

Member for

20 years

Posts: 299

I'm from the skydiving club there.

It is one of 24 sites being looked at. Nothing is reported to happen until 2024.

Here is a quote taken from an email I received regarding the issue:

No planning has been applied for and it is currently at a Government consultation stage. No official decision has been made and as it stands we are still here until 2024.

The land is owned by a local family so it will be interesting to know of their standing on this. I don't think the local villages and business are impressed at the plan.

If and when I find out more, I'll put it up here.

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

Kye

I hope I'm not teaching Grandma to suck eggs ! I've been involved in one or two planning battles. You need right now an active and vocal committee to orchestrate your opposition. You need as many individual people as possible who might be affected by these proposals to write to the planning dept. of the Local Authority or, the County Authority expressing in poilite but strong terms their opposition to the proposed development.

The grounds of opposition are many and varied but I regard 'public amenity' as the core. Some may disagree. Don't let time go by. The sooner you start the better and maintain the pressure. Don't think that because it has gone quiet that it has gone away - it hasn't. By house to house calling, collect as many names and addresses as possible.

Good luck to all those at Sibson who oppose.

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

Whilst my comment is not Sibson specific, the problem with house to house canvassing for support is that, these days, too many of the neighbours of airfields are likely to be opposed to them - often despite the fact that the airfield was operational when they bought their house - and on being told of the proposed development may, on the balance of evils, be more likely to agitate in support of the 'alternative development' plan - unless, of course, they perceive that potentially to affect the amenity or, perhaps more importantly, the value of their house. So if one is intending to canvass the support of an airfield's neighbours, one needs to give careful consideration to one's initial pitch to them. It needs to be couched in terms that it will affect them, their lives and their property values adversely, so that they are brought on side from day one. If that is not done, their support may be lost forever. Always remember that GA airfields generally have few friends outside the aviation community.

Member for

20 years

Posts: 299

Hello folks.

The threat now appears to be over. The local communities, businesses and councils have all opposed the plan. It seems that the planners had not done the consulting they should have done and tried to go behind peoples backs.

So, for now at least, the airfield will continue to operate for the flying school, private pilots, the drop zone and all other users.

http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/news/sibson-garden-village-expression-of-interest/