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

junction of the A19 and Bagby Lane to the position of Griffin Farm with only minor
interruption due to a tall hedgerow. At 80 k/mph the hangars, club house and
windsock around the airfield are visible for about 14 seconds to a
motorist/passenger on the A19 in both southbound and northbound directions.
The same claim of limited views from the A19 is made at paragraph 6.23 where
the report makes reference to the impact of the new project.
282. The FPCR report claims at paragraph 4.35 (page 27) that, “There are no
negative impact upon the wider landscape character beyond its immediate
context which is currently degraded by its utilitarian ramshackle structures and
setting.” This statement avoids reference to the intrusion caused by the
demolition debris that has accumulated at the south western end of the runway or
the attention drawn to the site by the recently installed windsock. The existing
buildings on the airfield are noticeable from positions that are up to a kilometre
from the site. The existing buildings could not be described as enhancing the
landscape, nor is the impact of the buildings neutral in the landscape.
Accordingly it is considered that the impact of the existing buildings on the airfield
is more significant than that claimed in the FPCR report and is clearly adverse. I
consider that the existing buildings cause a slight adverse impact on the wider
landscape and that the movement of the windsock and aircraft draw attention to
the airfield such that the slight adverse impact is experienced by a greater
number of people than would be the case of a similar group of agricultural
buildings.
c. the magnitude of impact caused by the design
283. Section 6 of the FPCR sets out to assess the impacts of the project. The
report appears to assess both the impact of the new landscaping work ten years
after planting in combination with the impact of the building work. However the
report concentrates on assessing the impacts on the landscape of the new
planting works and makes little reference to the impacts arising from the
additional building works.
284. The new range of hangars on the south eastern boundary of the airfield
would stand as a significant and solid barrier in the landscape. The grouping of
buildings would not be of an agricultural character and would when viewed in
Hambleton District Council - Tim Wood – Proof of Evidence - 63 -