A further public meeting to discuss the proposed closure of Filton Airfield by BAE Systems has been organised by Filton Town Council for this Monday (19th September).
South Gloucestershire Council’s Chief Executive, Amanda Deekes, and the head of BAE Systems’ Aviation Services division, Andrew Cheeseman, are expected to attend – according to the Save Filton Airfiled group.
The meeting takes place at the Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS [map], starting at 7pm.
What have Patchway Councillors been saying about the proposed closure?
Comments received during consultation on South Gloucestershire Council’s Filton Airfield Position Statement included this one from Cllr Mills of Patchway Town Council:
“I live in Patchway, the new Bovis (future slum) estate being built on the North Field is directly opposite my house, to consider allowing the Airfield to be built upon with who knows how many new houses will put too much pressure on local services and infrastructure within the Patchway/Filton area, we should be protecting the manufacturing base we have in Patchway/Filton.”
“To allow BAe Systems to force the closure of this facility will do untold damage to the employment prospects for future generations; we should be encouraging aerospace companies into the area, not forcing them out.”
“BAe should be told they will not get planning permission to build houses on that land; it will force a rethink on their part.”
Another Patchway Town representative, Cllr Tiley, wrote in the Bristol Evening Post on 2nd August:
“What we are facing here is a purely commercial money-driven decision by BAE Systems, and sadly a decision that was always going to come one day when the campaign to develop an airport here was blocked by NIMBYS.”
Cllr Hopkinson wrote with two Conservative colleagues in the Bristol Evening Post on 14th August:
“The airfield has been economically unviable for many years. The local Labour Party is playing cynical politics with local residents.”
A petiton to save Filton Airfield has been started by the South Gloucestershire Labour Party. Signature sheets are available locally at the Patchway Town Council offices and the Post Office within the Spar store, Rodway Road. There’s also an e-petition on the Government’s Directgov website.
Related link: Filton Airfield (South Glos Post)
