Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:28 pm
#1686415
Sometimes, you have to spell it out...
defcribed wrote:Much the point I was making. The judge passes judgement based on the facts, statute and precedent (as may be the case). He (of she) does not judge on the fact that you (KeithM) think it's a shambles and an injustice.
KeithM wrote:The fact remains, however, that this appears to be purely an opportunistic move on the part of the landowners to seek a maximum increased return on an already viable asset for entirely selfish reasons. In the face of strong opposition “spoiling tactics” are being used and financial pressures are being applied.
Land is a limited resource, hence the need for planning rules and limitations on development and a need to balance public interest with private interest.
Whether or not, in that context, Wellesbourne Airfield deserves protecting might well be a matter of opinion but there is also a genuine wider concern that its loss, especially under such circumstances, could set a negative precedent and one which would seem contrary to the stated aims of not only protecting but enhancing the GA infrastructure within the U.K.
Seems to me, quite simply, that if we cannot protect an airfield from redevelopment where redevelopment is being opposed by the very body responsible for approving it, then which airfields can we ever hope to protect?
cockney steve wrote:AIUI, it's already been established that paved -runways and the footprints of existing buildings and paved roads/taxiways etc. are considered "brownfield " .., .
cockney steve wrote: It seems logical that in the case of Wellesbourne, most of the site is , at most, agricultural
defcribed wrote:That idea doesn't meet the landowner's needs at all because a major part of gaining planning permission for development will be demonstrating the non-viability of the existing use.
Stratford DC have their five year housing supply laid out, so gaining planning permission for housing will be extremely difficult if not impossible. If they didn't have the five year supply, there would be a presumption in favour of approval.
BUSINESSES at Wellesbourne Airfield have been told they cannot reappeal a ruling against the renewal of their leases.
The airfield has been the focus of an on-going dispute between the owners, which want to sell it to developers for housing, and Stratford District Council, which wants it to remain an airfield.
Businesses took their fight to court after owner Littler Investments told them their leases would not be renewed.
But the businesses lost the original case to get their leases renewed in June last year, and an appeal in March.
Flying school Take Flight Aviation and aeroplane workshop Warwickshire Aviation – which took the legal action – have now been told by the Court of the Appeal they cannot reappeal the ruling.
It means they face having to leave the airfield by September 30.
Earlier this year the district council began a compulsory purchase of the airfield to protect it from developers – but that will not be completed before the September deadline.
Rodney Galiffe, owner of South Warwickshire Flying School (SWFS), also based at the airfield and hoping to stay, said the news was a setback.
He said: “The news, although somewhat expected given the advice I had following our appeal, is nevertheless disappointing and another setback to the enormous fight by everyone involved in the legal quest to get the business tenancies renewed.
“Purchase offers and the initial stages of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) are in progress with the council reporting that meaningful talks are in progress with the landlords at the present time.
“The business operators are in the forefront of all Stratford District Council’s negotiations. We retain great optimism that a secure and sensible result will ensure before September 30 when the landlords have made known that they will cease all operations.
“SWFS’s present lease will expire on the same date unless there is a successful outcome to the future retention of flying functions.”
deltacharlie wrote:Latest position: https://www.flyer.co.uk/wellesbourne-ai ... re-likely/