Integrated Impact Assessment
Popham Aerodrome is undoubtedly THE jewel in the General Aviation Crown of Southern England and should be recognised for both the joy and services it provides for thousands of enthusiastic visitors and resident pilots alike.
I have been flying small light aircraft for over 40 years and Popham has always provided a lifeline to a much-diminished number of airfield retreats for aviators, model aeroplane enthusiasts, drone flyers, vintage car and bike enthusiasts, hovercraft hobbyists, and student pilots on a budget learning to fly affordable club training aeroplanes from a ‘grass roots’ airfield with lush green surroundings.
It provides a natural habitat haven for much endangered wildlife within its open green fields and this would be annihilated should Basingstoke District Council allow this proposed development to go ahead.
Many thousands of visitors from far and wide frequently visit the Spitfire Cafe for an affordable meal and enjoy the comings and goings of a rich variety of aircraft over lunch there.
Popham Aerodrome is a beautiful green natural habitat ‘retreat’ central to a myriad of built up areas such as Basingstoke, Andover, Winchester, Reading and other surrounding towns.
Building houses on Popham would be the equivalent to building high-rise skyscrapers on New York’s Central Park . Everyone knows this would be a grave error of judgement and therefore BDC should see the logic in this.
Both my elderly parents moved to Andover to enjoy the retirement benefits that Popham Aerodrome provides. They have several friends who have lost their life-long wives and husbands, and Popham Aerodrome Cafe is a meeting place that allows them to congregate and feel engaged with the local community and friends while enjoying watching aviators display their wonderful home-built and other exotic aeroplanes.
Trust me when I say Popham is like no other ‘licensed’ aerodrome in England and it would be a travesty for all the many thousands of people who rely on the Popham Aerodrome for personal and social interaction plus all those who’s livelihoods rely on this very active ‘social community’ airfield.
We live a long way from my parents and being able to fly to Popham Aerodrome is a lifeline enabling us to meet them there like many others do with their friends and relatives from surrounding areas.
We hope BDC see the impact and devastation it would reap across the surrounding areas for thousands of ordinary people far and wide should they allow this development travesty to go ahead.