Plans for planes at new barn (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Plans for planes at new barn

12:00am Wednesday 18th July 2012 in Marlborough

Objectors to plans for a dual purpose barn on the Lower Upham airstrip at Ogbourne St George fear it could lead to an increase in the number of aircraft taking off and landing.

JHP Farming has been wanting to expand the airfield operation at Lower Upham, at the side of the Marlborough-Swindon A346 road opposite Chiseldon Firs, for some years.

Last year the airfield owners were granted a three-year extension on using a polytunnel as a hangar for light aircraft and they say the proposed new steel-framed building would be used for aircraft storage to replace the polytunnel and possibly for agricultural storage.
 

Objections to the permanent building have come from Aldbourne Parish Council because the new building would be 40 per cent bigger and there have been 15 individual letters of objection, some from local residents.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), North Wessex Downs AONB and Ogbourne St George Parish Council said they have no objection to the permanent building as long as it does not lead to an extension of flying activities and noise nuisance.
 

Wiltshire Council planning officers, who will tonight be recommended to approve JHP Farming’s application, have also received 24 letters supporting the application with some of them saying the noise problem referred to by objectors does not come from Lower Upham but from the parachute drop plane that operates from Redlands Farm at Wanborough.