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

265. The provision of additional facilities particularly the provision of overnight
accommodation would have the potential to detract from the viability of other
businesses in the area such as the nearest hotel, The Divan Hotel on Sutton
Road, and farmhouse bed and breakfast accommodation in the vicinity. However
the scale of facilities sought in this application are not so large that the impact
would be anticipated to be seriously harmful to the existing business. The
appellant has previously set out that the facilities are intended to be a niche
market attractive to those wishing to fly in and out of the airfield and that the
facilities would not be made available to those who do not have business at the
airfield.
266. The operation of the maintenance business at the site has been expanded
recently in to the existing Hangar B. The Hangar B has been refurbished and
provided as a maintenance building.
267. There is a caravan used for staff accommodation. This is an unauthorised
use which the proposal shows is to be removed. No business case has been
made for the provision of permanent accommodation on the site. The
replacement clubhouse makes no provision for dedicated staff accommodation
and in the event an approval should prevent use as a dwellinghouse. No
evidence has been provided to show that a permanent residential presence is
necessary for the purposes of the operation of the business or that the business
could not be operated on a viable basis in the absence of residential presence.
268. The operation of the site as a filling station for aircraft has the potential to
give rise to a significant increase in noise. The layout of the site with a helicopter
refuelling pad separate from the other facilities at the airfield has the potential to
increase the number of fuel sales as the operation of the helicopter refuelling pad
would result in less congestion than the current location of the Jet A1 fuel bowser
just north of Hangar A.
269. The change from the management of the land between the club house and
the Runway 15/33 from agricultural use for cereal production to “existing grass
land retained” suggesting a reduction in the farmed land. The removal of the land
from agricultural production and maintenance simply as grassland would not
benefit the local economy. It is acknowledged that depending on the land
Hambleton District Council - Tim Wood – Proof of Evidence - 60 -