Model plane club plan faces turbulence
Model aeroplane enthusiasts who want to secure a site for their flying club face strong opposition from their parish council.Members of Waveney Model Flying Club use land in Aldeby to fly their imitation aircraft throughout the year but only have temporary planning permission for the site.
Model aeroplane enthusiasts who want to secure a site for their flying club face strong opposition from their parish council.
Members of Waveney Model Flying Club use land in Aldeby to fly their imitation aircraft throughout the year but only have temporary planning permission for the site.
That permission was granted in 2005 and expires in October so the club has now applied to permanently change the use of the field near St Mary's Road from agricultural land to a model flying club.
The application would also increase the number of planes being flown at a time - from three engine-powered planes and one quieter electric model to four powered ones and two electric or glider planes - and the times the club could operate.
Although planning officers at the Broads Authority have recommended that the application should be approved, there have been several concerns raised by people living in the area and Aldeby parish council has lodged a strong objection.
In a letter to the Broads Authority, the council said: “Parish councillors have received numerous complaints from residents since flying commenced which include noise, considerable increased traffic flow in rural lanes and general intrusion into the otherwise quiet rural existence of village life.”
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The council objected to the original planning application in 2005 and in the letter said it felt its original concerns had been “brushed aside” and hoped its concerns would be listened to more carefully this time.
Ian Fulcher, chairman of the flying club which has over 80 members aged 10 to 86, said it had not received any complaints and were keen to address the concerns of people living nearby. He said: “We consider ourselves very good neighbours. We are always there to be spoken to. If anyone is concerned we will happily speak to them.”
In a report to go before the Broads Authority planning committee on Friday, officers say no complaints have been made to either the authority or South Norfolk District council.
The report says: “It can therefore be suggested that there is no significant adverse impact on neighbouring amenity as a result of this.”
