Need to stay grounded over airfield plans

Congratulations to Claverly Council for opposing the plans put forward by the owners of Bobbington Airfield.Like them, I am deeply sceptical about the future intentions of the published plans for flying operations from this airfield.

In addition, I am concerned about the intended industrial units they intend to build there.

I have seen, as I go around this country, vast amounts of industrial sites, and their visual impact on those areas are appalling.

I fear that building on the Bobbington site will be equally devastating. Apart from the buildings, there will be a large increase in the volume of traffic, which will include multi-wheeled heavy lorries, which in turn will bring calls from the owners of the site for improved roads including the supposedly cancelled ring road.

If one takes a look at two Ordnance Survey Maps numbered 138 and 139 they will see on sheet 139 a history of frightening development. At a map reference 170832 a small place called Elmdon can be seen. If my memory serves me correctly this was, pre-war, a very small airfield. It now has for its neighbour that noise and air-polluting place called Birmingham International Airport.

On sheet 138 can be seen the direction of the present runways at Bobbington and by projection obtain some idea as to the areas which will be flown over, but make no mistake about it, every area will get their fair share of noise and expended fuel fumes in their back gardens.

I can see a parallel to Birmingham happening at Bobbington if this scheme is allowed to proceed.

I have seen devastation of the countryside in the north of the county and have felt sympathy for people who live there.

I get the feeling similar destruction now awaits us who live in the south of the county. I ask people in this area to pay attention to any planning applications because very soon, planning will be taken away from the local authorities and placed in the hands of distant regional inspectors who have no knowledge of local feelings or needs.

M L Morgan, Blakely Heath Drive, Wombourne.