Private airfield wants more flights

PLANNING bosses at Warrington are to be asked to relax conditions on a private airstrip to enable more flights to take place.
But people living near the airstrip on land at Rixton Moss, Rixton-with-Glazebrook are opposing the proposed changes – as are Birchwood Town Council and Woolston Parish Council.
They claim light aircraft landing and taking off from the airstrip cause distress to livestock, rob them of peace and quiet in their gardens and could impact on wildlife habitats.
The parish councils also express the fear that the airfield could be developing into an aero club or commercial operation – possibly offering an air taxi service.
Two applications are to be considered by Warrington’s planning committee – one to convert the existing temporary planning consent to a permanent one and the other to allow more aircraft to land and take off.
Planning permission for the airfield was originally granted by an appeal inspector after the borough council had refused consent. But the inspector ruled that no more than 500 flights should take place in a year, that they should be restricted to four days in any week and to four take-off/landing cycles on any one day.
However, the operator now wishes this condition to be varied to no more than 10 take off/landing cycles per day, with no more than 25 in any one week. The 500 flights a year restriction would remain.
He says wet weather restricts the ability to use the grass airstrip, sometimes leading to long periods when no flying at all is possible. This causes problems for pilots who cannot gain the necessary flying hours to maintain their pilots’ licences.
Planning officers claim most of the residents’ objections have been met and are recommending the variations of conditions be approved.