City airport is part of life for villagers
TOLLERTON Airport is not like many other airfields – it lies just a few miles from Nottingham city centre.
The site, officially called Nottingham City Airport, is located off Tollerton Lane in the Rushcliffe village.
Other nearby sites include Spire Nottingham Hospital, a private hospital offering a wide range of treatments for patients.
The airport, which has two runways and is owned by Truman Aviation, is mainly used for private and business travel – as well as flying lessons. Sherwood Flying Club use the airfield, as does Arcus Helicopters.
But what’s it like to live on the doorstep of the airport?
Gillian Jessamine has lived with her husband opposite the site for 38 years.
She said: “We love it here. “It’s just pleasant. The airport doesn’t bother me, personally, one bit.
“The situation with our house is they don’t actually come over us – I’m not sure what the flight paths are exactly but it doesn’t affect us.
“Some people have complaints about that who live near here, but not us.
“When we bought this house, the estate agent mentioned the airport as if it should put us off, like it would be a problem – but it’s not been at all. It’s noisy at times but that never bothers me.”
She added that Tollerton Lane, which connects the A52 to the A606
Melton Road, is very busy.
Ms Jessamine continued: “This road can obviously get very busy and cars do fly down here. It wasn’t like that when we first moved in, in fact, when I first heard a car I jumped out of bed and couldn’t believe it! That’s how quiet it used to be.
“But I don’t think the airport has much to do with that, times change and there are more developments, more cars. I actually prefer a little bit of noise personally, I don’t like it when it’s too quiet.”
The airport was opened back in 1930 and was known as RAF Tollerton during the Second World War.
There is a cafe for visitors, with an outdoor seating area and runway viewing area.
Brian Hempstead, who often walks his dog near the airport, said: “You have to watch the cars on this road. I love it around here, as does this one [his dog]. I’m not too sure whether I’d want to live this close to an airport, though. Although it is quite a small one, so I wouldn’t think it would be too bad.”
One Tollerton Lane resident, who didn’t wish to be identified, told the Post: “I’ve got no problem with having it so close by.
“It’s actually nice to look at the planes as they take off and land.
“I must say I do find it quite frustrating whenever we go on holiday and have to travel all the way to East Mids [airport]. This one is so close!
“But this is a good area with friendly people, which is the most important thing for me.”