Hopes for happy landing in airfield closure wrangle
Aviation firms looking to find solution to long-running battle
ALONG-RUNNING battle over a Midlands airfield which has been threatened with closure could be set to reach its final stage – and the businesses based there hope it will be good news.
Wellesbourne Airfield in Warwickshire has been at the heart of a dispute between its owners, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, and the businesses on the site.
Hopes are now high that the future of the airfield could be secured after its owners said they were “engaging constructively” with the council over what will happen to it.
The airfield near Stratford, which is also the site of a regular outdoor market, has been facing closure after its owners revealed plans to develop the site for housing.
That prompted a stand-off between Stratford council, aviation businesses on the site and site owners, the Littler family.
In March, councillors approved a move to make a compulsory pur
chase (CPO) of the site. The council said the move would guarantee the acquisition of the land and ensure it continues operating as an airfield.
Littler Investments, which represents the Littler family, had previously wanted to see the site developed for housing, while the council pledged to protect the businesses and to retain Wellesbourne as an airfield.
The businesses employ 200 people.
The situation was further complicated by the fact a number of aviation businesses there were involved in a legal dispute with the owners over the renewal of their leases.
They were awaiting the decision of an appeal over renewing them.
This week it was announced that their appeal had been refused, which prompted a joint statement from Littler Investments and the council suggesting the airfield’s future could soon be resolved.
The council said the owners had “come forward with constructive proposals” which were worthy of “proper consideration”.
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In it, a spokesman for Littler Investments welcomed the judgement and said: “The owners of Wellesbourne Airfield are pleased that yesterday’s Court of Appeal decision brings to an end the protracted process to resolve the legal status of the current tenancies.
“Despite the many public comments to the contrary, the owners’ approach has been found appropriate and lawful on three occasions - by a district judge, the High Court and now the Court of Appeal.”
The spokesman added: “The owners have been unable to make any firm plans about the airfield’s future until the repeated legal appeals were concluded.
“However, we are engaging constructively with the council to look at options for the future of the airfield and hope that these positive discussions will find the right solution for the site.”
A spokesman for the council said: “We are aware of the outcome of the tenants’ legal action which is entirely separate from the CPO process.
“We would like to reiterate
our stated core strategy policy objective that aviation should continue at Wellesbourne Airfield.
“The council can confirm that the Government requires authorities to use CPO powers when it is expedient to do so.
“Consequently, we are engaged in ongoing discussions with the landowners in relation to securing the future of the airfield.
“While these discussions are legally privileged and confidential at this stage, we are pleased that the landowners have come forward with constructive proposals that merit proper consideration.”
The council spokesman added: “The council has been clear throughout that the future use of the airfield must accord with the adopted core strategy policy objectives.
“While the council is considering working collaboratively with the owners to secure these objectives, if it is clear that continued aviation is in doubt, then the council will take the necessary steps to make the compulsory purchase order, if it is expedient to do so.”