Need to stay grounded over airfield plans

Sunday 24th August 2008, 9:20AM BST.

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.


  1. 1
    Geoff Walker

    Talk about over exageration – “Bobbington” or Wolverhampton Business Airport has been quite open about the planned use. We’re not talking big jet airliners here, just the same light civillian aircraft of the same type that have been using this airfield already. Another Nimby attitude prevails here – that airfield has been there since WW2 days – only now do these pathetic “local” residents start voicing their concerns!!!
    The answer’s simple – don’t move next to an active airfield in the first place. You have no right complaining about it, so move house!

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  2. 2
    CEBRU

    FOR MR BROWN KINVER,ENVILLE AND THE SURROUNDING HILLS ARE NOT NATURAL BEAUTY SITES.THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE OF STOPPING THE WHOLE AREA FALLING INTO THE LAP OF FANS OF FAST INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT,MOTORWAYS AND HIGH SPEED TRAINS.
    THE SOUTH WEST OF THE WEST MIDLANDS IS CHRONICALLY DEFICIENT IN JOBS AND AMENITIES BUT IS THAT A REASON TO SACRIFICE THE NATURAL BEAUTY THAT IS LEFT? PLEASE ASK MR BROWN WHEN HE LAST WENT TO KINVER EDGE OR KINGSFORD COUNTRY PARK OR THE SEVERN VALLEY ROUND US………

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  3. 3
    Helena

    wow Geoff! Vested interest or did you just want to insult the writer of the very eloquently written piece? lol
    To say ‘move house’ is not a resonable answer… I’ve lived in the family home since 1964 – why should I move? And I can here the jets take off and climb in Kingswinford!
    ‘No right complaining’ you wrote, No right? While we still have a reasonable amount of free speech in this country Mr Walker, I will use my right to complain just as you are doing now!
    We are all allowed an opinion you know, but you could leave the personal insults out…No need…

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  4. 4
    Martin Davies

    Can’t see Bobbington becoming like Birmingham airport myself. Have you seen plans that others have not?

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