Council refuses to budge on decision to stop model aircraft flying at Aldridge Airport
Walsall Council has refused to back down on its decision to stop model planes flying at the historic Aldridge Airport.
Greenacres Model Aero Club, which has used the site on Airfield Drive since 1947, launched a petition earlier this year to continue using the airport for their activities.
It followed a termination notice sent by Walsall Council to the group, and its 60 plus members, ordering them to stop the activities in summer this year.
The grounds for the termination notice was that the group’s activities ‘pose a health and safety risk’ and that the use of the site did not fit the council’s ‘long-term vision’.
The argument came to a head at a street scene and communities scrutiny committee meeting on October 21.
Petitioners were able to put forward their case to portfolio holder for culture, health and wellbeing, Councillor Gary Flint, and the leader of authority, Councillor Mike Bird.
Greenacres Model Aero Club treasurer Mark Travers, and member Steve Philpotts, pleaded with the council to continue using the site.
They explained how the activities are well-loved by the community, who often have picnics and watch the model flying on the airport.
They also argued that no incidents or injury have occurred in the group’s history and that the council earns an income of £1,500 to £3,000 per year from licensing fees.
In 2022, Walsall Council allowed Severn Trent to plant 19,000 trees in the run up to the Commonwealth games.
Mark said the project reduced the size of the greenspace by 60 per cent, and the club complained to the local government ombudsman.
During the complaint, Mark said the council had offered to plant the trees so shorter species were nearer the runway, and taller ones were further away.
However, once works were complete, Mark said this was not carried out as promised.
The ombudsman found the council was at fault due to a lack of consultation, but other than improving the council’s processes, no further action was required.
Addressing the scrutiny committee members on Tuesday, Mark said: “A lot of families come down with their kids and sit down for the day and enjoy the displays.
“It’s a free airshow for them, and with the diminishing of airshows, this is the only time they’re probably going to see some of these types of aircrafts flying in their life.
“We put on three events a year, which we have been doing for quite a number of years now.
“This brings in people from all over the country, sometimes Europe, and even from Australia, who use the local businesses, shops and pubs.”
Steven added: “The very presence of the Greenacre Model Aero club effectively provides free policing. While we’re there and using the place, there’s not likely to be people doing nasty things.
“The effect of this club can only be a good thing, especially the recognition of mental health benefits. I can see no reason for it not to continue.”
But Councillor Flint said the council plans to link the site to an extension of Walsall Arboretum.
He said: “We had an opportunity through the Commonwealth Games with our partners Severn Trent and we carried out a vast tree planting event on there.
“Upon meeting you it was obvious that some consultation hadn’t happened properly. At that moment we paused and tried to find some common ground.
“It was evident that was never going to happen with yourselves in that process.
“We offered the sites put forward, from your point of view none were sufficient to meet the needs of that site. We issued the termination of lease, which we are well within our rights to do, to ask you to leave the site.”
Councillor Bird said the airport is ‘not the permanent home’ for the club, which has used the site for more than 75 years.
He said: “It has to be said it is not the onus of this council to provide open space or provision for a private club, whatever that might be.
“Many people in this room will know we’re under directions from central government, to be as green agenda as possible. That means planting trees and it means biodiversity net gain and I’ve said to operators of the club if you want to secure your future the only way you can do that is to get some land of your own.”
Gestures were made by the two leaders to support the group with finding an alternative site.
Members of the committee voted in favour for the councillors and officers to work with the petitioners to find alternative sites for the club.
