March is 'last chance' to campaign against Filton Airfield closure
CAMPAIGNERS will be holding a march on Saturday to protest against the closure of Filton Airfield.
They will gather in Golf Course Lane at noon before walking down the hill to the airfield's boundary to hear speeches from guest speakers including Tony Burke, assistant general secretary of the Unite union.
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An aerial view of Filton Airfield
Patchway councillor Dave Tiley, who is one of the organisers and chairman of the Aerospace branch of the Unite union, urged former workers or relatives to support the event.
He said: "This is a last chance to protest at the loss of the airfield, we are standing on the shoulders of giants here, we have to defend our legacy.
"We seek to defend Filton's corner of UK aircraft manufacturing. We need local MPs to support this Government's policy of supporting manufacturing – making things.
"We make aircraft wings, engines and parts that raise billions of pounds in revenue for this country, yet we are starting to see what could be our work go abroad, with nothing coming in to replace what we make here in Filton and Patchway for the UK and the world's aircraft industry.
"Let's give the next generation of workers a chance to keep carrying the torch for manufacturing here.
"Please march for the past, the present, and a future."
Filton town councillor Melanie Drewett said they were protesting at South Gloucestershire Council's decision in December to allow housing on the airfield after its expected closure at the end of this year.
She said: "There is in the region of 5,000 houses they wish to be built on the site, leading to large amount of job losses for the aerospace industry, not to mention the impact of traffic and pollution for the area.
"At rush hour, which can often be as long as three hours now, Filton, Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Patchway are already gridlocked and often Filton – with its only two routes, the A38 and A4174 – can be at a standstill for many hours.
"Creating more houses on this vital and needed airfield is chaos and the biggest planning mistake authorities could possibly make."
Paul Lees from the Save the Airfield Campaign said: "Although it has been organised at very short notice, we hope that people can spare a few hours to come and protest. We don't want more houses and more traffic chaos at the expense of a valuable asset that could bring real future opportunities to our region. We would like a future for Filton, not a past."
Councillors decided at their meeting in December to allow housing at the airfield as part of their planning blueprint, called the core strategy, for the years ahead.
Labour councillors tried to stop the decision going ahead but Tory and Liberal Democrat councillors argued that it was out of their control to keep the airfield open and it was much better to use the strategy to control planning on the 350-acre site.
The airfield is privately owned by BAE Systems, which wants to turn the airfield into an aerospace enterprise zone and build new homes.
The councillors' decision means the airfield is now earmarked for 2,500 homes in the strategy although this policy document has yet to be approved by a planning inspector after an inquiry is held in April.
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by SaveFilton
Sunday, February 19 2012, 7:40PM
“The Save Filton Airfield would like to thank the hundreds of people who braved the dreadful weather to show their feelings about the closure of the airfield.
We are very pleased with the way the march went. The numbers were incredible considering the awful weather.
People from all political parties took place in the march. In particular it was great to see a Conservative Councillor holding the main banner at the front of the march. We've tried to make this point all along - that we have supporters across the political spectrum - but here it was demonstrated publicly.
We had coverage on BBC TV, ITV, BBC radio Bristol, Jack FM, Heart, SouthSound Radio and others. We also made the "England" page of the BBC news feed for about 12 hours after the march. This is great publicity.
I've put a couple of photos on our website.
http://tinyurl.com/7nbk38k
http://tinyurl.com/7wprqu9
Once again Thanks very much for those who turned out in such awful conditions. You did us proud. Thanks also to those motorists who tooted in support, and in particular to the passenger in the transit van who was waving his arms all over the place. Thanks also to the police for giving us permission to stage the march, and for their help.
Thanks all.”
by Magrathea2011
Sunday, February 19 2012, 4:47PM
“Sorry folks - typos came in ! Corrected:-
@Labourstitch, that's what I amean. The rest quite unashamedly voted FOR removing Green Belt being removed !!!
It's a crime that they (the Cons and LibDems ) didn't propose even an amendment so it could be voted on - like so many other things that needed voting on in the 250 + pages (excluding the 700 + supporting documents), each on their own merit (eg Thornbury and Yate) ...
Oh well, 'green and pleasant land' eh ?”
by Magrathea2011
Sunday, February 19 2012, 4:43PM
“@Labourstitch, that's what I amean the rest quite unashamedly vited FOR removing Green bely being removed !!!
It's a crime that they (the Cons and LibDems ) didnt proposes even an amendment so it could be voted on - like so many other things in the 250 + pages (excluding the 700 + supporting documents) that needed voting on, each on their own merit (eg Thornbury and Yate) ...
Oh well, 'green and pleasant land' eh ?”
by Labourstitch
Sunday, February 19 2012, 4:17PM
“Thats right, Magrathea they did NOT vote at all! Allowing other councillors to push the vote through, instead labour councillors for filton and all of south glos sta on their hands...feckless.”
by Magrathea2011
Sunday, February 19 2012, 3:12PM
“At least they did NOT vote in favour to remove the Green Belt land near to the M5/Cribbs Causeway.......”
by Labourstitch
Sunday, February 19 2012, 9:44AM
“southwest6, its you who can't tell the truth, probably one of the labour lot who folded their arms!
labour councillors tried and failed to remove the airfield as part of the core strategy document, they all voted on a "gesture" rather than officially accepted change to the overall vote! Lots of talking done on the airfield but again useless as it is part of a larger plan which all labour councillors would not vote on. They now try and say the core strategy is important, but wont admit to the failure of not voting!
The airfield future remained IN THE CORE STRATEGY which all Labour councillors refused to vote on. The meant the core strategy progressed and so the airfield will be sold.
Its called spin and you are not very good at it!”
by lolly60
Saturday, February 18 2012, 11:43PM
“Am i going mad or what but didnt Labour all of them note vote on the Airfield matter ,i think some people have got their facts wrong again.”
by southwest6
Saturday, February 18 2012, 9:41PM
“I Know it is an uncomfortable truth for you!
Labour voted to save the airfield.
Tories and Lib Dems voted against.
The unbias can see the names in black and white.”
by Labourstitch
Saturday, February 18 2012, 7:57PM
“Then..... reality set in and ALL 14 Labour south glos councillors abstained from the most important vote for this region in decades.....the core strategy for south glos region....stop spinning southwest6 as you may be sick!”
by southwest6
Saturday, February 18 2012, 7:31PM
“1. Filton Airfield – THE ACTUAL VOTE - South Gloucestershire Full Council 14 December 2012
Policy Resolution
Council believes that Filton airfield is a unique British strategic asset and therefore
resolves that the South Gloucestershire Core Strategy should retain its designation as
an airfield for land use and agrees to make the necessary amendments to the
December 2011 Core Strategy to reflect this position. In doing so Council takes due
regard the fact that the Government aims to adopt a new aviation policy framework by
March 2013 which local authorities will need to have regard to when making planning
decisions.
Consequent Recommendation
Reaffirms Filton airfield's designation as an airfield for land use and instructs the
Director of Environment and Community Services to make the necessary amendments
to the December 2011 Core Strategy to reflect this position.
Those in favour: ALL LABOUR
Councillors Michael Bell, Ian Boulton, Bill Bowrey, Roger Hutchinson, Gareth Manson,
Adam Monk, Eve Orpen, Andy Perkins, Shirley Potts, Pat Rooney, Ian Scott, Sam
Scott, Keith Walker, Terry Walker
Those against: TORIES AND LIB DEMS COUNCILLORS
Ian Adams, Brian Allinson, John Ashe, June Bamford, Nick Barrett, Janet
Biggin, Ian Blair, Tim Bowels, Sheila Cook, Keith Cranney, Ruth Davis, Claire Fardell,
Howard Gawler, Heather Goddard, John Goddard, John Godwin, Robert Griffin, Neil
Halsall, Dave Hockey, Pat Hockey, Dafydd Holbrook, Sue Hope, Brian Hopkinson,
Justin Howells, Colin Hunt, James Hunt, John Hunt, Robert Jones, Trevor Jones, David
Kearns, Carol McCarthy, Katherine Morris, John O'Neill, Tony Olpin, Sarah Pomfret,
Christine Price, Bob Pullin, Steve Reade, Matthew Riddle, Mike Robbins, Adrian Rush,
Marc Scawen, Kevin Seager, Maggie Tyrrell, Sue Walker, Erica Williams, Claire Young
Abstentions:
Councillors Linda Boon, Ben Walker.”