Policy INF3: New and Improved Facilities
Para 9.44 states:
"Community facilities is a wide-ranging term, which encompasses an array of community, recreational, cultural and leisure uses, including: sports and recreation facilities (including playing fields, sports and leisure centres, swimming pools, indoor sports halls and leisure centres, indoor bowls, gymnastics centres, indoor sports facilities, health and fitness facilities/gyms, ice rinks, artificial turf pitches (ATP), athletics tracks, tennis and netball courts, bowling greens, grass pitches, golf courses/driving ranges, multi-functional green spaces (MFGS)."
I believe that BDBC, or their consultants, have been extremely negligent in not mentioning and categorizing Popham airfield as a very popular, thriving and active general aviation airfield. It is a community asset which has been in existence for nearly 50 years. Around 150 light aircraft are based there and the various aviation clubs membership is around 550 people.
I do trust that BDBC hasn't been in collusion with either the site sponsor (or the landowner) to underplay the significance of the airfield within southern England the borough. Popham airfield IS NOT not a tiny farmer's airstrip with few aircraft making use of it.
To summarise, Popham airfield:
- is a CAA recognised airfield (EGHP)
- is a company as well as a club; it directly employs 15 full and part-time people
- has approximately 18,000 movements per year
- supports a number of businesses; three flying schools and an on-site, CAA approved ,aircraft maintenance organisation
- supports a number of non-based engineering companies (eg Light Aircraft Association aircraft inspectors) and other related suppliers
- has a cafe which employs a minimum of six full and part-time staff
- is open to the public and is a major attraction for the local public to enjoy, especially in summer
- hosts a recognised caravan and motorhome site
- has an active aircraft modelling fraternity attracting people from across the south of England
- is used frequently by the Army, Air Force and civilian services (eg Helimed and Police) for exercises and as a facility
- supports major charity events at the airfield which has unique facilities and, again, attracts participants from across the south
- plays a major role in research into the safe and equitable integration of UAV technology into the aviation industry
- is one of the very few (so far) airfields which has invested in electric aviation and supports its development
- hosts major commercial events in support of the UK-wide aviation economy
- site maintains a unique floral environment. Some areas of the airfield are restricted to ensure this environment is not compromised
- grass areas are in a very "natural" state. Over the past 10 years the grass areas have only been sprayed twice with nitrogen to encourage the grass to grow. It is highly likely this was also the "grassed area" management philosophy for the previous 40 years.
The airfield must remain as is and not be turned into a 3000 homes housing estate.