The South Glos Post

Following the recent call from Bristol City Council condemning house building on Filton Airfield, local councils are also making their voices heard and calling for Filton Airfield to remain as a working aerodrome.

South Gloucestershire Council will debate a save Filton Airfield motion on Wednesday 19th October whilst councillors on Filton Town Council, Bradley Stoke Town Council and Oldland Parish Council have all voted to save the airfield. The group that is campaigning to save the Airfield understands a number of other councils have a Filton Airfield debate on their forthcoming agendas.

“This is a significant boost to the campaign, and shows the strength of local opposition to the asset stripping proposed by BAE Systems”,

said Bert Hindle, a key campaigner in the Save Filton Airfield (SFA) Campaign. He went onto add:

“Local Councillors realise that a key strategic decision which has serious implications for future employment in the area cannot be rushed through in just 3 to 6 months.”

The SFA Group has stated previously that BAE Systems, a global defence company which has closed a number of its aerodromes, has been running down Filton Airfield for a number of years with a view to selling the airfield for housing. BAE Systems stated that it could make as much as £300m from the sale.

Campaign group to respond to public consultation later this month »

Source: Save Filton Airfield Campaign Group

Local people are being urged to share their views on the future of Filton Airfield, which has been scheduled for closure by owners BAE Systems by the end of 2012.

South Gloucestershire Council has launched a new series of public exhibitions to find out what people have to say about both the proposed closure and the future of the 348-acre site.

The exhibitions, which begin today, Monday 3rd October, will explain the reasons given by BAE Systems for the planned closure, as well as summarising the feedback the council has received from earlier consultations.

They will also provide further opportunities for local people to comment on the proposed closure and the implications for the future planning of the area.

South Gloucestershire Council Executive Member for Planning, Transportation & Strategic Environment Brian Allinson said:

“Filton Airfield has tremendous significance for the people who live and work in South Gloucestershire and neighbouring areas and it is important that we hear everyone’s views on the proposed closure and the future of the site.”

“The feedback from our consultation will help to inform future visions and policy for the area, as set out in our draft Core Strategy for South Gloucestershire. The independent inspector responsible for reviewing the strategy has already indicated that some additional work needs to be undertaken to give more direction and detail to any further development proposals.”

Read on for full details of exhibition venues and dates »

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Filton Airfield has been running at a loss for more than a decade, according to its owners BAE Systems, who plan to close it at the end of 2012.

A meeting at Filton Community Centre on Monday night (19th September) heard Andrew Cheeseman, Director of BAE Systems (Aviation Services), state that the airfield had lost “millions of pounds” in recent years.

Asked to what extent the company had promoted the airfield during that time, Mr Cheeseman said this had been done through a new website and a brochure distributed to the aviation industry at home and abroad.

BAE’s efforts were rubbished by Staple Hill Councillor Ian Boulton (Labour), who described the company’s website as “amateurish”.

Cllr Boulton told BBC Bristol:

“It really is disappointing to see they’re trying to market our airfield in such an amateurish way when it’s such an important asset.”

Amanda Deeks, Chief Executive of South Gloucestershire Council, said BAE Systems had been asked to provide evidence of the airfield’s alleged unviability as an input to the process of amending the Council’s draft Core Strategy document, which will soon be reviewed by an independent inspector on behalf of central government.

More: Council to listen to local people on airfield options »

Statement on Filton Airfield from Jack Lopresti MP

Over the last few months the planned closure of Filton Airfield has divided some local opinion. The announcement from BAE Systems that the airfield will shut on the last day of 2012 was sad but presents us with some great opportunities. I understand the sentiments behind the campaign to save the airfield, it is right that we should unite as a community to recognise the legacy and huge contribution that our area has made to British Aviation. Yet I would argue, and will set out in this article, that with the closure of the airfield we will not lose that heritage, locally based world renowned businesses will still be at the forefront of British Aviation, that local industry and jobs will remain secure. More importantly we will secure our young people’s future through economic growth and career opportunities, partnered with education, training and inspiration from the great achievements of the past. I cannot, as your representative in Parliament, recommend that we follow any other course in good conscience.

There are only two ways the Airfield can remain in operation, either through massive public subsidy, i.e. taxpayer support, or a hugely increased usage on a par with a busy commercial Airport, which local people have repeatedly rejected over many years.

I remember well the Campaign Against Filton Commercial Airport (CAFCA) in 1993. That campaign had an active membership of 13,000 people. The Airfield has been economically unviable for years as both BAE and Airbus have made known, and so far no potential buyers have come forward. The fact is that there is no need for an airstrip at Filton.

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Source: Jack Lopresti MP