Wellesbourne Airfield - the story of the legal fight to save the airfield, the CPO and council plan.

The airfield tenants spent collectively around half a million pounds trying to protect their businesses and the future of Wellesbourne Airfield, whilst the land owners acknowledged they ran down the site to make it ripe for development. After the legal case was lost Stratford District Council started Compulsory Purchase Order proceedings as they had voted to protect the airfield in accordance with the local and neighbourhood plan. However, the council CEO signed an agreement to pause the CPO and contrary to the terms of the agreement have allowed the largest fixed wing company Take Flight Aviation to be evicted, making the airfield unviable. Take Flight had led the campaign to Save Wellesbourne Airfield, set up crowdfunding, gathered local and government support and suggested to the local council that they could protect the airfield by removing the permitted development rights that ultimately successfully stopped the airfield form demolition. The complex legal battle and fight is explained by Take Flight's Managing Director Mike Roberts.

[@Peter-sm2rs]

Excellent video Mike, good luck, I fully support your actions. I wished I lived closer, I'm in Lancashire at the moment. I was appalled at the actions and behavior of you local Council and their refusal to respond at the meeting you recently posted.
I have visit Wellesbourne Airfield several times and have flown from there once,
Keep up the good work.

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

Thanks Peter. Public support is really important to us as we just don't understand how this can be allowed to happen given the promises made to us by the council.

[@foxbatgpw1]

Very informative video. I hope you are successful in saving the airfield. I will circulate this to members of the West Midlands LAA Strut based at Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green. As you are probably aware this airfield is owned by a property developer who has applied for planning permission to build houses on it.

[@bobjohnson8193]

Great video, informative and interesting. Fully support you.

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

Many thanks we really appreciate the support.

[@angelreading5098]

Well done,keep this rolling do not let them get away with it.

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

Many thanks for your support.

[@angelreading5098]

@@TakeFlightAviationUK You are more than welcome sir,a lot of people are behind you in saving our valueable airfield and literally save aviation in Warwickshire,we cannot allow such short sighted behaviour to take place,it is a great video and I will do my best to spread the word and above all the truth behind all of this.

[@rogierwesterhuis1580]

So frustrating to hear yet again that the authorities that are supposed to look after all our interests are again letting us down. Good luck in your endeavours and fingers crossed for a change in fortune for your business and us GA pilots who use the facilities at Wellesbourne even if it was for fly-in lunches..

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

Thanks Rogier. Comments much appreciated.

[@espcheck2278]

Has the local MP offered any support? Keep up the good work.

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

The local MP has written to Stratford District Council but not had an update recently.

[@robertlavers1121]

Releasing some of the site for commercial use would set a precedent for development, a well-known planning tactic of taking small steps to achieve an end goal which would otherwise have been turned down. Partial commercial use would benefit the Council through rates and kudos for employment numbers, as well as enhancing the value of the land and providing a lease income for the owners, a win-win for both parties. That this would be to the detriment of Wellesbourne residents and the airfield businesses is a small pill to swallow by Stratford District.

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

Hi Robert, You're right and the way the landowners are being allowed to get away with it by evicting legitimate businesses and the council pausing a CPO as long as a few planes keep flying is incompetent if not criminal. The airport could have the best GA airfield in the country but SDC have allowed it to be decimated. The airfield (pre Covid) had less than 25% of the movements before the landlords started removing tenants by agreement or evicting the tenants by legal means by misusing the court process. Thanks for your comments and support.

[@mswift1985]

Such a shame Take Flight has gone from there, I had just joined coming over from Areos and I was looking forward to completing my aero rating with Take Flight.

[@TakeFlightAviationUK]

Thanks Mark. Hopefully we'll be back there one day and with the added bonus of additional bases at Enstone, Oxford and Shenington.