THE CASE FOR CLOSING MUCH-LOVED AIRFIELD
Filton MP JACK LOPRESTI puts the case in favour of closing the town’s air field, despite the concerns of many of his own constituents
OVER the last few months the planned closure of Filton Airfield has divided some local opinion.
The announcement from BAe Systems that the airfield will shut on the last day of 2012 was sad but presents us with some great opportunities.
I understand the sentiments behind the campaign to save the airfield, it is right that we should unite as a community to recognise the legacy and huge contribution that our area has made to British aviation.
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Yet I would argue, and will set out in this article, that with the closure of the airfield we will not lose that heritage.
Locally-based, world-renowned businesses will still be at the forefront of British aviation, and local industry and jobs will remain secure.
More importantly, we will secure our young people's future through economic growth and career opportunities, partnered with education, training and inspiration from the great achievements of the past.
I cannot, as your representative in Parliament, recommend that we follow any other course in good conscience.
There are only two ways the airfield can remain in operation, either through massive public subsidy, ie taxpayer support, or a hugely increased usage on a par with a busy commercial airport, which local people have repeatedly rejected over many years.
I remember well the Campaign Against Filton Commercial Airport (CAFCA) in 1993. That campaign had an active membership of 13,000 people. The airfield has been economically unviable for years, as both BAe and Airbus have made known, and so far no potential buyers have come forward. The fact is that there is no need for an airstrip at Filton.
However I do recognise the operational importance of the site to the Great Western Air Ambulance. I have spoken with BAe Systems again and am happy to confirm that BAe are in discussions with the Air Ambulance and are committed to working with them to enable operations to continue from within the current airfield boundary.
So what are the future intentions of the local industry, will they, as some have suggested, quickly leave the employees and facilities and supply chains that have been built up over generations?
We know that BAe will continue to have a significant presence locally but what about the other main employers?
Airbus made the following statement on the closure: "Airbus is fully committed to Filton – this is the case now and will remain the case, as clearly demonstrated by the recent decision to build a multi-million pound business park at Filton and the continued investment in state of the art facilities such as the A350XWB Landing Gear Test Facility. We are putting into place a range of mitigation measures to ensure that the closure of the airfield does not affect our business in any significant way."
Rolls-Royce says in a submission to the South Gloucestershire Core Strategy that far from it being prejudiced, "the closure of the airfield is likely to widen the development potential of East Works with, for example, the relaxation of constraints" and, furthermore, that the option of both commercial and residential use for the land that both I and South Gloucestershire Council are recommending to you, is "the only credible option".
GKN has recently invested in converting two units at the Western Approach Distribution Park, Severn Beach, to house a £125 million manufacturing facility for the company, creating 250 jobs locally. This investment was in no way based on the continued existence of the airstrip.
With these reassurances, all in the public domain, it is hard not to see the cynicism and opportunism that some local politicians are displaying.
The local Labour group have said that they "have not been persuaded that there is no operational future for the runway" fully in the knowledge that the airfield is losing significant amounts of money and has done for many years. The Bristol Labour Party leader, Councillor Peter Hammond, has said that the airfield's future is central to the economic growth of the area and will jeopardise 30,000 jobs.
Rather than scaremongering, why won't he listen to the local industry, to local employers looking to expand and encourage growth?
Surely our aims should be to secure local investment in the aerospace hi-tech manufacturing sectors, to provide more local employment, to achieve balanced communities by strengthening local infrastructure and transport links, create much-needed housing and secure the Concorde museum and the long-term legacy of aviation at Filton. Those are the aspirations that I see and hear about from local people and the aspirations that I will fight for.
We have the proudest of aviation legacies in Filton and, yes, we must recognise it but not at the expense of future generations.
To uphold this proud legacy and to ensure that Filton's position as one of the cradles of aviation in Britain, and, indeed, the world, is conserved, it is vital that any development of the airfield includes a considerable aviation heritage centre.
In recent weeks I have been continuing my work with South Gloucestershire Council, the Concorde Trust and the Bristol Aero Collection to lobby for this and I have applied huge pressure on BAe Systems to honour their commitment to protect our local aviation legacy by investing in a heritage aviation centre which will include a permanent home for Concorde 216.
I know that BAe have recognised this responsibility and that lots of work is continuing behind the scenes.
Make no mistake, this may well be the last opportunity to secure a permanent home for Concorde 216 here in Filton.
We desperately need more engineers and scientists locally and in the country.
A brilliant aviation heritage centre will help to inspire the next generation of aviation pioneers and would honour those from the past like Sir George White, the founder of aircraft manufacturing in Filton.
I live within sight of the airfield in Filton. I share and appreciate people's sadness and regret at its closure. However I do not and will not support Labour's plans for massive taxpayer support or the development of a busy commercial airport.
The local Labour Party are playing cynical political games with local residents. We cannot bury our heads in the sand. I will do what is right for local residents. We will fight for a fitting legacy for the airfield and the contribution it has made to the local area but also to ensure that the land is used to create local jobs, for the benefit of local industry and the local economy. We will also campaign for desperately needed local housing to only be built with suitable planning conditions, including local transport and other infrastructure improvements.
I cannot imagine a more fitting legacy to the airfield, which has helped our local area grow and thrive over the last 100 years.
Comments
by flowergirly
Friday, September 23 2011, 12:11AM
“As you quote "You will do the right thing for residents"? What planet are you on Jack! Us the residents do not want the airfield to be closed. Seem's you haven't done any research on public opinion as if you had you would have noticed when put to a public poll 97% want to retain the airfield!
Perhaps you would have been more in touch with the public had you bothered to attend the Airfield meeting on Monday.
As for bringing politics into this what tosh! It's about councillors representing residents and the voters that put them in that position not scoring points! Shame you have forgotten how you made it to MP, as people put you there and they can put you back down to!”
by laner73
Wednesday, September 14 2011, 9:53AM
“I was all for a commerical airport and still am. I grew up when concorde engines were being tested at the end of the runway near housing and when it always flew over the houses low. Its only a new generation that say no and because of them saying no we now face the closure of the site and I would bet on it that people who said no to it before are now campaigning to keep it open. A commercial airport would be viable as the runway is bigger than Bristol airport which in term would mean more international flights to places further a field than what Bristol does now and we suffer for long haul flights in the West by having to travel to Gatwick or Heathrow for the pleasure. So long term it will create jobs at the site and more money coming into the west country by more tourism flights being able to land. With regards to the noise planes are getting quieter and nobody complained in the airfields hey day.
Save the airfield its a bit late it should have been done in the 1990's and Filton would now be a booming town along with the other towns in the area with high employment.”
by slugsix
Wednesday, September 14 2011, 9:40AM
“Filton: Uneconomic?
Jack Lopresti continues to ignore the will of his contituents.
Before it closed, Bristol Evening Post's poll on the subject had recorded 611 votes. Of these, 593 (97%) wanted to retain the airfield.
This is the sort of margin Mr. Lopresti can only dream of achieving in his own elections. He would no doubt describe this as an "overwhelming majority". Yet, he continues to ignore such strong signals, repeatedly telling us that Filton Airfield is uneconomic.
Perhaps with his previous experience, working for his father's Ice Cream business, Mr. Lopresti is unable to see that the airfield at Filton is part of a very complex economic jigsaw puzzle.
For a start it's not difficult to see that airfields in the UK can be viable. Just up the road, Gloucestershire (Staverton) airfield is thriving. Flight training, general aviation and engineering are growing and the airfield is investing.
So why is Filton Airfield in decline, when just a few miles up the road, Gloucestershire is thriving?
Filton airfield is surrounded by hugh aviation industry. There is huge future potential at Filton. Airbus is continuing to increase it's aircraft bulding capacity. There are vacacant hangars that once hosted aviation businesses. These are now empty and for sale. For example, a company called Air Livery would fly planes into Filton to be repainted before they were flown out again. Why did Air Livery leave Filton to continue operations elsewhere? Did BAE or Jack Lopresti do anything to keep them in our local area? Time for some investigative journalism.
As a result of the surrounding aviation industry, Filton's operating costs ought to be lower. For example, the Fire Station on the airfield is shared between the Airfield and Airbus. Airbus no doubt gets a hefty reduction in its annual insurance premium for having a fire station on site, and the airfield no doubt receives a hansome contribution from Airbus for it's presence. Not only that but the Fire Station offers training courses.
Filton Airfield also earns revenue by providing a Lower Airspace RADAR service to aviation in the vicinity. It also earns revenue from training. Not just from based operators, but from the Military and other flight training organizations. More revenue comes from the Air Ambulance and Police Helicopter, both of which are based at Filton and benefit from the aviation services on the site.
It's not difficult to see that this is a complicated economic system, and it's not difficult to see that Filton Airfield can achieve lower operating costs because of its environment. Filton, therefore, has many advantages over Gloucestershire, which as we've seen is thriving. Filton has great road and rail links, and it is close to a major UK port.
From all of this, and with only a moments thought, it can easily be seen that with the right will, Filton Airfield could easily be viable in it's own right.
So what are the operating costs of the airfield? As you can see from the following link, BAE refuse to disclose them:
http://tinyurl.com/43hkpqk
The sad fact is that the airfield is worth more to BAE as housing. Like the UK's once proud railway industry, our aviation industry seems set to move abroad.
Jack Lopresti seems unable to listen to the people and realise that he has the family jewels on his doorstep.Rather he is allowing them to be flogged off at a car boot sale.”
by slugsix
Wednesday, September 14 2011, 9:37AM
“Filton: Unecomic?
Jack Lopresti continues to ignore the will of his contituents.
Before it closed, Bristol Evening Post's poll on the subject had recorded
611 votes. Of these, 593 (97%) wanted to retain the airfield.
This is the sort of margin Mr. Lopresti can only dream of achieving in his
own elections. He would no doubt describe this as an "overwhelming majority".
Yet, he continues to ignore such strong signals, repeatedly telling us that
Filton Airfield is uneconomic.
Perhaps with his previous experience, working for his father's Ice Cream
business, Mr. Lopresti is unable to see that the airfield at Filton is
part of a very complex economic jigsaw puzzle.
For a start it's not difficult to see that airfields in the UK can be
viable. Just up the road, Gloucestershire (Staverton) airfield is thriving.
Flight training, general aviation and engineering are growing and the airfield
is investing.
So why is Filton Airfield in decline, when just a few miles up the road,
Gloucestershire is thriving?
The only explanation I can come up with is that it doesn't fit into the BAE
business model and therefore has been run down in preparation to sell it for
housing, where BAE can make a lump sum to strip an asset it doesn't want,
leaving the rest of the players to worry about what happens next.
Filton airfield is surrounded by hugh aviation industry. There is huge future
potential at Filton. Airbus is continuing to increase it's aircraft bulding
capacity. There are vacacant hangars that once hosted aviation businesses.
These are now empty and for sale. For example, a company called Air Livery
would fly planes into Filton to be repainted before they were flown out again.
Why did Air Livery leave Filton to continue operations elsewhere? Did BAE or
Jack Lopresti do anything to keep them in our local area? Time for some
investigative journalism.
As a result of the surrounding aviation industry, Filton's operating costs
ought to be lower. For example, the Fire Station on the airfield is shared
between the Airfield and Airbus. Airbus no doubt gets a hefty reduction in
its annual insurance premium for having a fire station on site, and the
airfield no doubt receives a hansome contribution from Airbus for it's
presence. Not only that but the Fire Station offers training courses.
Filton Airfield also earns revenue by providing a Lower Airspace RADAR service
to aviation in the vicinity. It also earns revenue from training. Not just
from based operators, but from the Military and other flight training
organizations. More revenue comes from the Air Ambulance and Police Helicopter,
both of which are based at Filton and benefit from the aviation services on
the site.
It's not difficult to see that this is a complicated economic system, and it's
not difficult to see that Filton Airfield can achieve lower operating costs
because of its environment. Filton, therefore, has many advantages over
Gloucestershire, which as we've seen is thriving. Filton has great road and
rail links, and it is close to a major UK port.
From all of this, and with only a moments thought, it can easily be seen that
with the right will, Filton Airfield could easily be viable in it's own right.
So what are the operating costs of the airfield? As you can see from the
following link, BAE refuse to disclose them:
http://tinyurl.com/43hkpqk
The sad fact is that the airfield is worth more to BAE as housing. Like the
UK's once proud railway industry, our aviation industry seems set to move
abroad.
Jack Lopresti seems unable to listen to the people and realise that he has
the family jewels on his doorstep.Rather he is allowing them to be flogged
off at a car boot sale.”
by edshoestring
Sunday, September 11 2011, 2:08AM
“Jockstraplie
You appear to be getting the wrong end of the stick - Please allow Ed to put you straight ..
Cllrs Ian Scott, Adam Monk, Ian Bolton and the LibDem candidate at the last election Peter Tyzack have all lived in the parliamentary constituency and Jack Lopresti has also lived and worked in the FABS constituency.
Jack Loprest (Conservative) previously represented Bristol City Councillor like the previous Labour Member of Parliament Doug Naismith who lived in Shirehampton but represented Filton
You seem to be forgetting that the new parliamentary seat for Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS) was formed prior to the last general election - Ian Bolton stood and lost the seat for Labour - Peter Tyzack stood and lost the seat for Lib dems - Jack Lopresti stood and Won the parliamentary seat for Conservatives as the new Member of Parliament for (FABS)
Now lets have some honesty regarding the whole situation -
Do you deny that Cllr Ian Boulton Cllr Bill Bowry both want to be M.Ps ?
Ian Boulton will jump on any gravy train in the Abbeywood - Filton area and Bill Bowry will jump on any issue to heighten his intention to represent Kingswood that is the reason Why they are spearheading the Save Filton airfield Campaign - However they clearly both Do Not live in FILTON or were they elected to represent the Filton Town Council.
Why are they getting involved in Filtons affairs ? There only aim is to highten awareness to the name BOULTON and BOWRY for their next attempt to be the M.P.s for FABS and Kingswood .
As was previously requested more Honesty and less of the Deceipt please....
Cllr Ian Scott and Cllr Adam Monk do however both supposedly represent Filton but will not confirm what they are actually willing to do for Filton residents as they are probably far too busy sharpening their machetes for their next attack on local democracy.
However I do detect that Ian Boulton does have strong aspirations to becoming the next Labour parliamentary candidate for FABS but he really needs to be Honest and up front to all local residents of FABs and not be Deceiptful regarding his real intention for getting involved in Filtons Airfield and Filtons affairs.
Perhaps you need to join Ian Boulton and pour yourselves a stiff glass of Wine from the Boulton Sour Grapes vineyard !”
by edshoestring
Sunday, September 11 2011, 1:59AM
“Jockstraplie
You appear to be getting the wrong end of the stick - Please allow Ed to put you straight ..
Cllrs Ian Scott, Adam Monk, Ian Bolton and the LibDem candidate at the last election Peter Tyzack have all lived in the parliamentary constituency and Jack Lopresti has also lived and worked in the FABS constituency.
Jack Loprest (Conservative) previously represented Bristol City Councillor like the previous Labour Member of Parliament Doug Naismith who lived in Shirehampton but represented Filton
You seem to be forgetting that the new parliamentary seat for Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS) was formed prior to the last general election - Ian Bolton stood and lost the seat for Labour - Peter Tyzack stood and lost the seat for Lib dems - Jack Lopresti stood and Won the parliamentary seat for Conservatives as the new Member of Parliament for (FABS)
Now lets have some honesty regarding the whole situation -
Do you deny that Cllr Ian Boulton Cllr Bill Bowry both want to be M.Ps ?
Ian Boulton will jump on any gravy train in the Abbeywood - Filton area and Bill Bowry will jump on any issue to heighten his intention to represent Kingswood that is the reason Why they are spearheading the Save Filton airfield Campaign - However they clearly both Do Not live in FILTON or were they elected to represent the Filton Town Council.
Why are they getting involved in Filtons affairs ? There only aim is to highten awareness to the name BOULTON and BOWRY for their next attempt to be the M.P.s for FABS and Kingswood .
As was previously requested more Honesty and less of the Deceipt please....
Cllr Ian Scott and Cllr Adam Monk do however both supposedly represent Filton but will not confirm what they are actually willing to do for Filton residents as they are probably far too busy sharpening their machetes for their next attack on local democracy.
However I do detect that Ian Boulton does have strong aspirations to becoming the next Labour parliamentary candidate for FABS but he really needs to be Honest and up front to all local residents of FABs and not be Deceiptful regarding his real intention for getting involved in Filtons Airfield and Filtons affairs.
Perhaps you need to join Ian Boulton and pour yourselves a stiff glass of Wine from the Boulton Sour Grapes vineyard !”
by Irritable9
Saturday, September 10 2011, 9:01AM
“bobob3 - You might not want the airfield but surely you understand the concerns about rushing to build thousands of houses. The impact it could have on the whole area would be terrible if proper consideration isn't taken. I lived in Stoke Gifford before Bradley Stoke was even conceived and quickly realised it would take years for proper schools, shops, community centres, etc. would be built so we moved while the family were young and I'm so glad we did as I was proven right.
The Lib Dems are also concerned about jobs. Where are all the people in these houses going to work? If in Bristol then better transport and infrastructure is needed. This shouldn't be rushed and I would question anyone who wants to rush to build houses, do they have a self interest?”
by bobob3
Saturday, September 10 2011, 8:21AM
“Its worth remembering , that apart from a few posters on here, the vast majority of people in Filton & Br Stoke with either
1) be quite happy to see the airport close and not be disturbed by planes any longer
2) not give a monkeys about Filton Airport”
by JockstrapLie
Saturday, September 10 2011, 7:55AM
“Edshoestring has conveniently forgotten that Cllrs Scott, Bowry, Monk, Bolton and the LibDem candidate at the last election Peter Tyzack have all lived in the parliamentary constituency for years. The only person that had to move into the area was Jack Lopresti MP, who only moved to Filton AFTER being selected as the Conservative candidate and has been trying to pass himself as a local ever since!
Our MP and his supporters must be hoping we all have short memories. We will not have the wool pulled over our eyes by you!”
by edshoestring
Saturday, September 10 2011, 3:21AM
“I have to agree with the comments made by Aeronought Bristol City Council should not be allowed to get their sticky paws anywhere near the Airfield.
Well I am deeply disapointed to hear that Cllr Ian Scott is not prepared or willing to put himself up as the prospective Labour parliamentary candidate for Filton - does this apply to Cllr Adam Monk as well ?
Clearly there is again a great reluctance by Filton Town Councillors to want to represent their area or Save the Airfield which is obviously why they are depending on Cllr Ian Boulton and Cllr Bill Bowry to run the Save the Airfield Campaign and where do they both live ?
Ian Boulton and Bill Bowry certainly Do Not live in Filton and I am right in saying they were not elected to represent the Filton Town Council or Filton Ward in South Gloucestershire.
So Why are they getting so involved in Filtons affairs ? Do they both want to be prospective Labour members of parliament.
Lets have some honesty from all these councillors instead of endless deceipt.”