The Group was set up to reduce noise from light aircraft operating from Old Sarum Airfield, initially by requesting pilots, via Old Sarum Flying Club, to undertake their low-level operations in a circuit which avoided built-up areas particularly Stratford-sub-Castle.

A military airfield existed at Old Sarum from 1915 until 1981 when the site was leased to Edgley Aircraft Ltd. who initially sought Planning Permission to `Change of use to light industry restricted to light aircraft manufacture and related aviation uses at Old Sarum Airfield (S/81/1043)', subsequently ammended (but not published) to `Change of use to light industry restricted to light aircraft manufacture and related uses, and civilian use of grass airfield in association with the manufacture, testing and servicing of light aircraft, together with limited recreational, liaison and business flying'.

Salisbury District Council was alerted to the potential problem of aircraft noise both by a letter from the public and by advice from their Housing and Health Department.

There was clearly an intention to consider the setting of conditions to the operation.

The flavour of the records is that there was undue haste to establish the commercial use of the site.

Since the ammendment has never been put before the Rate-payers of Salisbury, they, the Rate-payers, were never given the opportunity of commenting on `the civilian use of grass airfield' that has become the principal use of the Airfield.

The term `limited flying ' was not defined: This is the heart of the problem: Bearing in mind that the Planning Committee was advised by professional planners, who should have been aware of the lack of legislation applying to aircraft noise, there is no evidence that the potential for intrusion on the environment of the residents of Salisbury and the adjacent villages from the operation of the airfield was investigated, that specialist advice was sought or that the experience of Councils with airfields elsewhere was obtained.

The lack of definition renders that part of the application which refers to `the civilian use of grass airfield' meaningless.

Edgley Aircraft Limited went into receivership in 1985 and its successor companies in light aircraft manufacture, first Brooklands Aerospace plc and then FLS Aerospace, had by 1986 both terminated their activities at the airfield when The Wiltshire Flying Club and subsequently Old Sarum Flying Club took over the lease.

The principal change resulting from this was a very substantial increase in the number of aircraft departures and landings with an attendant increase in the extent of the noise generated by the flying; noise of such a magnitude that conversation is impossible in the gardens of properties within the envelope of the flight path. A very high percentage of these operations now took place during leisure times (evenings and weekends) and in particular during the summer months; in other words at precisely the times that local residents sought to enjoy their gardens and pursue other outdoor activities in comparative tranquility, undisturbed by aircraft or other noise. This new pattern of operations were in direct contrast to when the military and then aircraft manufacturing operations were based at the airfield; then, the limited flying that took place occurred during working hours and on weekdays.

The licensing of the airfield for flying training by the CAA in 1986 led to a further increase in activity. Complaints commenced from this time.

It was at this point that the Group was formed and initial approaches to the Flying Club were made with the object of routing low-level aircraft away from built up areas.

The Flying Club designed such a `circuit` but pilots failed to observe it. When challenged the Flying Club said that it was impossible to fly to a line drawn on a piece of paper and that such a circuit was at variance with standard instructions ie. to fly straight ahead on full power until 500 feet is reached, and that such variance could confuse trainee pilots who form a significant proportion of those operating from Old Sarum Airfield.

An investigation by the Council in 1996 concluded that it was not possible to consider and constrain the flying activities in isolation from the use of the land as an airfield. The Council sought to address the problem by establishing a discussion forum on which local residents, the Council and Old Sarum Flying Club were to be represented; in the eventuality, local residents were excluded from the forum at the insistence of Old Sarum Flying Club, an exclusion which was accepted by Salisbury District Council. The forum has proved to be wholly ineffectual in bringing about any meaningful change. Proposals to impose limits on flying operations have been resisted by the Council reportedly because of the implications of possible compensation claims by Old Sarum Flying Club.

An enquiry into a similar situation which occurred at Crowfield, Suffolk, however, took into account the disturbance caused by aircraft in flight and set criteria for measurement and constraint. It also emerged from the evidence submitted that Councils elsewhere had been actively concerned with the nuisance caused by the operation of light aircraft.

Most recently, Salisbury District Council have commisioned a survey of noise emanating from aircraft operating from Old Sarum Airfield. The survey showed that a number of areas were "harmed" according to World Health Organisation standards.

Planning Permission is currently being sought to develop the airfield if, as is currently proposed, Old Sarum Flying Club's tenancy is terminated in April 2005.

Summary.

From the above it is concluded that:

The Planning officers and planning committee failed to exercise a level of care one would expect from a professional body when granting the consent, in a way we consider to be negligent. This has been compounded by the council`s unwillingness to react in a positive way to the complaints of members of the public over several years and restrict flying activity in any way at all.

- The change from military and aircraft manufacturing-related flying to leisure flying at Old Sarum Airfield resulted in a very significant increase in the numbers of departures and landings during normal leisure hours, thereby raising the nuisance levels to local residents resulting from engine noise to intolerable levels.

- The impact of the noise on local residents was not properly considered by Salisbury District Council.

- The Council has taken no action beyond setting up a discussion group because the imposition of limitations to flying operations could result in the requirement to pay compensation.

- Elsewhere in the country Councils have taken action to limit flying where local residents have been affected by noise.