18/08/2009
NEWS STORY
In the face of protests from locals who are against F1 testing at Elvington Airfield in York, another local resident has organised a Facebook campaign in support of testing at the former RAF base, and it is attracting growing support.
The airfield, which is also used for the BBC motoring entertainment show Top Gear, and was the scene of Richard Hammond's accident in 2006, has long played host to F1 teams which carry out straightline testing on its 1.92 mile runway.
However, inevitably, a small group of locals became weary of the alleged noise and complained to their local council resulting in a legal case which saw the council lose due to a legal blunder whilst picking up a legal bill running into six figures.
With the council still pondering its next move, 23-year-old local Dean Butler has set up a Facebook page where fellow-locals that are in favour of the airfield running the tests and other events can vent their spleens.
Butler argues that the protests come from a small minority of residents, most of whom have moved to the area only recently and knowing of the airfield and the events it hosts, and that the F1 tests, in particular, bring extra custom to local businesses such as the pub, grocer and garage.
On Butler's Facebook page, his fellow locals make no bones about those doing the complaining.
"It's mainly the newcomers to the village that are complaining," writes Jeff. "Why did they move there if they didn't like it? l have several friends in the village and they have lived there for years and have no problem with the noise, in fact two of them are regulars up on the airfield when F1 testing is taking place."
"F1 is much more interesting than those sad people who sit around and look for something to complain about and like complaining for the sake of it," adds Michael. "The sound is awesome I live some 4 miles away and to hear the cars go through the gears up to top speed then back down it is wonderful better than aircraft during the air shows."
"I live in Elvington," says John, "and have no objection to f1 testing and also the airshow should be brought back. Lets find make our vote count instead of them stuck up prudes who somehow managed to end these activities."
While Greg writes: "Once again York council and Elvington Parish council cock things up, what a waste of our council tax, they couldn't organise a p*** up in a brewery. If the NIMBY's dont like it move somewhere else and get a life, they know when the testing and other activities are going to take place so why don't they go out for the day and let others (enjoy) these sports and pastimes, it brings revenue into the area and provides work for the locals."
Finally, Jonathan perfectly sums up what many of us feel about similar situations. "Why do people buy properties near airfields and then complain about the activity on them?" he asks. "It's like a vegetarian buying a house next to a slaughterhouse then trying to close it down!"
Elvington, which started life as a grass airfield in the 1940s, finally closed in 1992, and at one time - courtesy of the United States Air Force - featured the longest runway in the north of England.
Following the recent legal case, the council's environmental protection manager claims that the council is seeking to work with the airfield owners and local residents in an attempt to ensure that residents no longer experience a noise nuisance.