Mr M Scott, Bagby Airfield, Bagby, Thirsk, North - Hambleton District ...

239. The noise of fixed wing aircraft is largely due to take-off, departure and
ground movements; and to a lesser extent arrival. Helicopter movements cause
noise in all aspects of take-off, departure, arrival and landing. Prolonged ground
movements and low hovers are particularly intrusive.
240. The operation of an airfield is expected to give rise to some degree of noise
and disturbance with this being particularly noticeable to the population living
close to the Runway and those living close to or under the approach and
departure routes.
241. The time of day, day of the week, time of year and weather conditions are
critical to the level of disturbance that is experience by the population. Aircraft
movements during fine summer weekend afternoons being the most likely to give
rise to disturbance as this is the time when the resident population are most likely
to be seeking the peaceful enjoyment of their gardens and homes.
242. The appeal proposal seeks to gain approval to a number of works that
would result in increases in the potential number of flights due to the increased
capacity and attractiveness of the facilities at the airfield to pilots either as a
home base or to visit.
243. The provision of surfaced and reinforced aircraft manoeuvring areas
enables the movement of both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters during periods
of wet weather when without hard surfacing or reinforcement the aircraft hangars
would become inaccessible to aircraft.
244. Two particular pieces of evidence relating to the difficulty of moving aircraft
at Bagby Airfield during times of wet weather and soft ground conditions are
available. The first of these is the unauthorised provision of a hard surface area
immediately adjoining the apron of Existing Hangar E (see Masterplan drawing
4085-CH-SK-02 and the Enforcement Notice plan area shown outlined Green).
The appellant’s agent advised that the purpose of the extended hardstanding was
to enable the use of a ‘helilift’ to transport helicopters from the position of land in
to the hangar as the ‘helilift’ could not reliably travel over grass particularly when
it was wet or soft. The reason given is that the ‘helilift’ could not achieve
sufficient traction unless the surface was hard and even. Whilst the helilift is
specialist equipment for moving helicopters with skids rather than wheels this is
Hambleton District Council - Tim Wood – Proof of Evidence - 54 -