Runway plans given the go-ahead

After a nine-year campaign and a public inquiry, planning permission has finally been given for an all-weather runway at Sywell Aerodrome, Northants. UK.

Currently the runway is grass and can become water-logged in winter posing risks to pilots of light aircraft.

Now permission has been granted for a 1,000m hard runway.

Residents living nearby protested against the changes, saying the quality of village life would deteriorate if the plans went ahead.

Despite objections from local people, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Transport said they were convinced the new runway would bring both operational and safety benefits.

The Secretaries of State have granted Sywell Aerodrome permission to construct the All-Weather Runway subject to a number of conditions.

Mr Bletsoe-Brown commented "I am delighted with the decision, just disappointed it has taken so long."

Although there are still a number of hurdles to get over, this is a major step forward and we intend to start work next spring to hopefully have the runway serviceable for Winter 2009...........

Matthew Hague, secretary of campaign group STARE, said: "People have been saying a decision is imminent for a while now but we have been told that it is now due to be published on or before November 20.

"We are confident the decision will be in our favour. We believe the application is fundamentally flawed and expect those responsible to uphold that view."

If a decision is made it will finally bring an end to a nine-year wait, which has seen bosses at Sywell Aerodrome spend more than £1million funding their campaign – the same amount it would have cost to build the runway back in 1998.

More than £400,000 was spent on a public inquiry, following a string of appearances in the High Court and an official judicial review of the case...........

Wellingborough Council has predicted the total cost of dealing with the plans will stand at £373,157 while Sywell Aerodrome managing director Michael Bletsoe-Brown estimated the whole saga had cost his business about £600,000.

Action group Stop The Aerodrome Runway Expansion (Stare) was formed to fight the plans and say the public inquiry has cost them £60,000.

The news has been greeted with outrage by people in the borough, who say the council's cash should have been spent more wisely. ...........