Airfield battle goes on

Written March 2023

STRICTLY speaking, you could say it’s none of my business as a mere city councillor. Our little airfield is outside the Salisbury parish border. Yet everything that goes on at Old Sarum impacts city residents. Especially issues around planning.

So what’s bothering me now? Housing development in unsuitable places and unsuitable quantities, you may not be surprised to hear.

The World War One airfield’s owners are undeterred by losing their battle against an inspector’s verdict that plonking 460 homes in this Conservation Area would cause “inordinate” harm to our historic environment.

They’re talking about 320 this time. Still not exactly conservation, in my opinion.Yesterday all and sundry were invited to what their PR people called a ‘public consultation’.

Which it couldn’t be, because there is as yet no concrete (unfortunate choice of word, perhaps!) masterplan to consult us on. More of a presentation of non-binding possibilities that nobody asked for.

Just consider what the extra traffic from 320 properties will do to the jams and the quality of life for residents on Castle Road.
Consider the impact on the residents of Ford, officially designated a small village by Wiltshire Council.

Ask yourself what you want to see when you stroll up Castle Hill country park or the Old Sarum monument. How about an airfield-sized green respite amid the ever-expanding vista of new-builds? Even a few light aircraft bringing the place back to life?

For those new to the subject it’s worth explaining that the real villain of the piece is Core Policy 25 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy – a woolly policy in a strategy well overdue for revision.

This allows for an unspecified amount of “sympathetic” new development on the airfield perimeter, as long as it enhances the historic environment and retains and safeguards flying activity whilst limiting aircraft noise.              

All that it’s achieved is a lengthy wrangle.          

 
The Grade II* listed Hangar Three has rotted to such an extent that it’s had to be shored up under the guidance of Historic England. Why hasn’t it been made wind and watertight?

According to a Journal report, it’ll be completely refurbished if the new redevelopment plans get the nod. What if they don’t?

 
The Core Strategy stipulates that the masterplan for the whole airfield should be developed in consultation with the community, planning authority and developer “prior to any application being considered”.
That would be a start.