Stop wasting money. MP tells airport bosses

10:33am Monday 5th February 2007

MP Peter Ainsworth has told managers of Redhill Aerodrome to "stop wasting their money, and everyone else's time and get on with running their airfield".

His angry words followed clarification from the Government that new planning guidance will not affect the status of the airport.

MPs Peter Ainsworth and Crispin Blunt wrote to housing and planning minister Yvette Cooper for clarification following December's review of the green belt development ban.

The MPs for East Surrey and Reigate wrote to the minister amid concerns that future applications to build homes on Redhill Aerodrome may succeed.

Ms Cooper responded by saying: "There is no presumption that previously-developed land is necessarily suitable for housing development. This applies to airfields as to all other land uses."

She added: "It is up to local authorities to decide on a case by case basis."

Concern has been mounting over the future of the airfield after owners Redhill Aerodrome Ventures Limited (RAVL) began publicising plans for a village settlement. The company held two meetings in November to discuss plans for the site, including a second option to expand the aerodrome's current facilities.

Both Tandridge District Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council confirmed the airfield is part of the green belt and is unsuitable for development.

Mr Ainsworth said: "I am pleased that this point has now been clarified and we can now have certainty that the fact that Redhill Aerodrome is an airfield does not make it more vulnerable to development than other green belt land.

"Redhill Aerodrome Ventures Limited have now had clear messages from both Tandridge District Council and from the Government that Redhill Aerodrome is not an appropriate site for a massive housing development. I hope that RAVL will now stop wasting their money, and everyone else's time, and get on with running their airfield."

The developments came as RAVL announced a new exhibition to publicise plans to expand the airport. The display will be held at the Chef on the Road Cafe at Redhill Aerodrome next Thursday from 2pm to 8pm.

RAVL had previously said it preferred the option of a village settlement on the site. When asked about the shift in emphasis, RAVL spokesman Paul Dimoldenberg said: "Holding a public exhibition on the option of improving aerodrome facilities has always been part of our approach. We said right from the start that we would be investigating both options and holding public exhibitions on both options and this exactly what we are doing.

"Around 400 people came to the first exhibition on the village option and we hope that many local residents come along to the exhibition on the aerodrome improvement option on February 15."

January's exhibition about the proposed village settlement was boycotted by MPs and local campaign groups.