Owner appeal over airfield development

Bosses at Hambleton District Council, who have previously faced criticism for failing to enforce adequate controls on Bagby Airfield’s use, issued enforcement notices on Martin Scott.

A spokeswoman for the authority said: “The reason for serving the notices was the change of use of land to a runway and the construction of a fuel facility.”

The orders require the removal of the development and to see the land restored to its former use and limit the use of the east to west runway.

Mr Scott has appealed and an inquiry is being held. He argues there has not been a breach of planning controls and the steps required to comply with the notice are excessive and lesser steps could overcome objections. He also argues, that at the time the notices were issued, it was too late to take action.

Residents living close to the airfield, near Thirsk, have staged a hard-fought campaign in recent years to prevent a major development of the site.

Last year Local Government Ombudsman Anne Seex concluded the council failed to take action despite the airfield’s operations contravening planning permission.

She found the council was guilty of maladministration causing injustice and recommended that it should consider taking action to try to stop the airfield’s current use.