First Victory in the Battle of Farnborough Airfield!?

12.00.00am GMT Sat 8th Jul 2006

Local Liberal Democrats were delighted by the decision of Rushmoor's development Control (Planning) Committee to refuse the application from TAG, the Farnborough Airfield operator, which would have permitted a doubling of weekend and Bank Holiday flights. Local Mytchett & Deepcut Councillor, David Whitcroft, spoke at the meeting prior to the Committee coming to its conclusion.

Cindy Ferguson, Lib Dem Councillor for Mytchett & Deepcut said "The view of the local Borough Councillors is that we remain to be convinced of the need for more flights at weekends. Farnborough is a designated centre for business flying and business is NOT generally conducted at weekends - and the 2500 current weekend movements should take care of those businesspeople who want to use the airfield on Saturdays and Sundays and at Bank Holidays.

We really do not see why thousands of people on the ground should have the enjoyment of their homes and gardens negatively impacted by the noise and visual intrusion created by more aircraft over-flying them. This would result from the activities of relatively few people who want to use private airplanes at weekends - for purposes which may or may not be genuinely connected with business."

The matter may now be the subject of a Planning Appeal from TAG so whilst a major victory may have been won over weekend flying, the 'battle' may not be over yet!