Proposals to close Fairoaks
Posted: 22 May 2017, 09:21
Hi Chaps,
Dunno if any of you might be interested but there are plans afoot to close Fairoaks and build some 1500 houses on the site. This is causing quite a stir as you'd imagine.. not least of all because it will mean the closure of yet another airfield.
More info here: http://nofairoaksnewtown.uk/
and for those who live close and would like to petition against the proposals, go here: http://petitions.surreyheath.gov.uk/ProtectFairoaks/
Below is part of the notification email I received from the Brooklands team:
Fairoaks Airport in Chobham is less than 4 miles from Brooklands as the plane flies, and is one of only two remaining working General Aviation airports in Surrey.
Many of us at Brooklands know Fairoaks, and some have probably flown from there. What many may not know is that today, after 80 years existence there are plans afoot, with the backing of Surrey Heath Borough Council, for developers to turn the airport, which is in the Greenbelt, into a “Garden Village” with 1500 homes.
We all know what a struggle it was to save Brooklands from being completely covered with concrete after 80 years.
Before, and during WWII over 6000 airmen learned to fly at Fairoaks in Tiger Moths. Damaged Bristol Beaufighters, Beauforts and Blenheims were sent there for repair, Hurricanes were evacuated there from Brooklands after it was bombed in September 1940 and it was also visited by Wellingtons. Racing drivers Mike Hawthorn, Sir Jack Brabham and Basil De Lissa obtained their PPL there, Ron Flockhart and John Cooper flew from there. Cherry Huggins, later Lady Hambro learnt to fly there and went on to marry her flying instructor Peter Twiss, the first man to fly faster than 1000 mph in the droop snoot Fairy Delta 2.
Fairoaks is the only airport in Surrey that can be operated 24/7 for medical emergencies and organ air transport services. There were 152 such medical flights/movements recorded there in 2016. It’s home to scores of light and small business aircraft, a flying school and related businesses. Where can they go if Fairoaks closes? The majority of local people want Fairoaks to remain as a working airport, and a petition to SHBC has been set up. It already has 2000 signatures, but at least 3500 signatures are needed for this petition to be debated at a meeting of the Full Council, and that’s practically the whole population of Chobham. The deadline for signatures is 24 June, so I’m hoping a little help from friends who share an interest in aviation can raise the number above 3500.
You don’t have to live in Chobham, Surrey Heath or even the UK to sign the petition. If you sign the petition and have like-minded friends, please ask them to sign also. A signature automatically triggers an email response from SHBC and it’s necessary to click on that email to register the signature.
So there you have it.
ATB
DaveB
Dunno if any of you might be interested but there are plans afoot to close Fairoaks and build some 1500 houses on the site. This is causing quite a stir as you'd imagine.. not least of all because it will mean the closure of yet another airfield.
More info here: http://nofairoaksnewtown.uk/
and for those who live close and would like to petition against the proposals, go here: http://petitions.surreyheath.gov.uk/ProtectFairoaks/
Below is part of the notification email I received from the Brooklands team:
Fairoaks Airport in Chobham is less than 4 miles from Brooklands as the plane flies, and is one of only two remaining working General Aviation airports in Surrey.
Many of us at Brooklands know Fairoaks, and some have probably flown from there. What many may not know is that today, after 80 years existence there are plans afoot, with the backing of Surrey Heath Borough Council, for developers to turn the airport, which is in the Greenbelt, into a “Garden Village” with 1500 homes.
We all know what a struggle it was to save Brooklands from being completely covered with concrete after 80 years.
Before, and during WWII over 6000 airmen learned to fly at Fairoaks in Tiger Moths. Damaged Bristol Beaufighters, Beauforts and Blenheims were sent there for repair, Hurricanes were evacuated there from Brooklands after it was bombed in September 1940 and it was also visited by Wellingtons. Racing drivers Mike Hawthorn, Sir Jack Brabham and Basil De Lissa obtained their PPL there, Ron Flockhart and John Cooper flew from there. Cherry Huggins, later Lady Hambro learnt to fly there and went on to marry her flying instructor Peter Twiss, the first man to fly faster than 1000 mph in the droop snoot Fairy Delta 2.
Fairoaks is the only airport in Surrey that can be operated 24/7 for medical emergencies and organ air transport services. There were 152 such medical flights/movements recorded there in 2016. It’s home to scores of light and small business aircraft, a flying school and related businesses. Where can they go if Fairoaks closes? The majority of local people want Fairoaks to remain as a working airport, and a petition to SHBC has been set up. It already has 2000 signatures, but at least 3500 signatures are needed for this petition to be debated at a meeting of the Full Council, and that’s practically the whole population of Chobham. The deadline for signatures is 24 June, so I’m hoping a little help from friends who share an interest in aviation can raise the number above 3500.
You don’t have to live in Chobham, Surrey Heath or even the UK to sign the petition. If you sign the petition and have like-minded friends, please ask them to sign also. A signature automatically triggers an email response from SHBC and it’s necessary to click on that email to register the signature.
So there you have it.
ATB
DaveB
