Flying club left with nowhere store aircraft after 'disappointing' decision

A ‘disappointed’ flying club has been denied in their mission to gain hangar space at the airstrip in Wigan.

The Lancs Aero Club wanted a place for their members to store their aircraft when they land at the site on Kenyon Hall Farm Airstrip, off Winwick Lane. Wigan Council decided that the 14x11 metre hangars would be inappropriate development on a greenbelt and would be a blot on the landscape.

The club’s chairman and his members believe this refusal and the reasons given are wrong.

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At the moment, members of the club have to store their planes in different locations, usually for hundreds of pounds a month - which is money in the pocket of other flying clubs. The four hangars could store one to two aircraft in them at a time, the design and access statement said.

“I was very disappointed [with the planning refusal] because an airfield without hangars is not going anywhere,” club chairman Cliff Mort said.

“I think they are wrong and I don’t think we would create a nuisance. We have a planning consultant and will take his advice.

“I want to talk to the planning officers and ask them why they have refused us. They think it is inappropriate development, well I think it is appropriate.

“An airfield needs to have aircraft. The farmer is trying to diversify and this is why he has let us in here.

“The landlord has been very accommodating. He was behind us with the hangars and we wouldn’t get anywhere without his backing.

“We are a sport. We are just sportsmen, so it was very disappointing that they rejected us on what seemed to me to be very flimsy excuses.”

The club believes that the reasons for refusal by Wigan Council make no sense