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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Airfield concrete runway must go | Airfield concrete runway must go |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An unauthorised runway in south Wales should be ripped up as it breaks planning rules, councillors have ruled. | An unauthorised runway in south Wales should be ripped up as it breaks planning rules, councillors have ruled. |
| Owner Ken Bowen had applied to keep the concrete runway and hangars he had built at Upfield Farm Aerodrome in Whitson, near Newport. | Owner Ken Bowen had applied to keep the concrete runway and hangars he had built at Upfield Farm Aerodrome in Whitson, near Newport. |
| But councillors on Newport's planning committee unanimously agreed with their officers' recommendation that only a grass runway be allowed. | But councillors on Newport's planning committee unanimously agreed with their officers' recommendation that only a grass runway be allowed. |
| Mr Bowen, who was not at the meeting, can appeal against the decision. | Mr Bowen, who was not at the meeting, can appeal against the decision. |
| Many residents who live near the airfield attended the meeting and said they were pleased with the decision. | Many residents who live near the airfield attended the meeting and said they were pleased with the decision. |
| Diane Roberts said: "We've had to put up with increased activity in the last 18 months and it's been horrendous. | |
| "I was very relieved and very pleased with the planning officer's report as we've all been fighting this from one angle or another. | "I was very relieved and very pleased with the planning officer's report as we've all been fighting this from one angle or another. |
| "Now we want the removal of the concrete runway and hangars but he's got six months to appeal." | "Now we want the removal of the concrete runway and hangars but he's got six months to appeal." |
| Mr Bowen has been using the agricultural land he owns in Whitson Road as a light aircraft landing strip since 1995. | Mr Bowen has been using the agricultural land he owns in Whitson Road as a light aircraft landing strip since 1995. |
| He was originally granted planning permission allowing his family and friends to use a grass runway for domestic purposes with conditions preventing public and commercial use. Mr Bowen had retrospectively applied to keep his concrete airstrip in place | He was originally granted planning permission allowing his family and friends to use a grass runway for domestic purposes with conditions preventing public and commercial use. Mr Bowen had retrospectively applied to keep his concrete airstrip in place |
| But since then, Mr Bowen has built a 650m (2,132ft) long concrete airstrip, a series of hangars and a hard standing and had applied for retrospective planning permission to keep them in place. | But since then, Mr Bowen has built a 650m (2,132ft) long concrete airstrip, a series of hangars and a hard standing and had applied for retrospective planning permission to keep them in place. |
| Many local residents opposed the proposals with 75 letters of objection and one letter signed by 37 people against the application. | Many local residents opposed the proposals with 75 letters of objection and one letter signed by 37 people against the application. |
| Mr Bowen's solicitors wrote to the planning committee asking for the decision to be deferred. | Mr Bowen's solicitors wrote to the planning committee asking for the decision to be deferred. |
| In their letter, they claimed there had been inaccuracies in the planning report about the application and said they would legally challenge a decision to refuse it. | In their letter, they claimed there had been inaccuracies in the planning report about the application and said they would legally challenge a decision to refuse it. |
| They also argued that there was no correlation between Mr Bowen building his concrete runway and an increase in the airfield's use. | They also argued that there was no correlation between Mr Bowen building his concrete runway and an increase in the airfield's use. |
| However, council planning officer Mark Hand said that its construction over the former grass runway had made the airstrip more attractive to pilots and had therefore led to a direct increase in activity. | However, council planning officer Mark Hand said that its construction over the former grass runway had made the airstrip more attractive to pilots and had therefore led to a direct increase in activity. |
| I'm absolutely amazed that people can carry on and do these types of things Councillor Bob Poole | I'm absolutely amazed that people can carry on and do these types of things Councillor Bob Poole |
| He said Mr Bowen's log book showed that between July 2007 and May 2008 there had been almost 1,000 movements in and out of the airfield - working out to around 21 flights a week. | He said Mr Bowen's log book showed that between July 2007 and May 2008 there had been almost 1,000 movements in and out of the airfield - working out to around 21 flights a week. |
| The meeting was also reminded how officers considered the strip to be having a "harmful effect" on the local environmentally sensitive area which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). | The meeting was also reminded how officers considered the strip to be having a "harmful effect" on the local environmentally sensitive area which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). |
| After considering the evidence, councillors went ahead and unanimously refused Mr Bowen retrospective planning permission for the concrete runway, hangars and hard standing and agreed to take enforcement action. | After considering the evidence, councillors went ahead and unanimously refused Mr Bowen retrospective planning permission for the concrete runway, hangars and hard standing and agreed to take enforcement action. |
| They also agreed that the increased use of the airfield had contravened previous planning conditions. | They also agreed that the increased use of the airfield had contravened previous planning conditions. |
| During the meeting Councillor Bob Poole said: "I'm absolutely amazed that people can carry on and do these types of things. | During the meeting Councillor Bob Poole said: "I'm absolutely amazed that people can carry on and do these types of things. |
| "The application is for a mini airport in the area and further down the line it will become a commercial airport." | "The application is for a mini airport in the area and further down the line it will become a commercial airport." |
| There were 976 movements at the strip between July 2007 and May 2008 | There were 976 movements at the strip between July 2007 and May 2008 |
| Local residents, who set up an action group against the airfield, had previously expressed safety fears about the site. | |
| A number of near-misses were reported and two men walked away unscathed in July when their aircraft crashed after taking off from the airfield. | |
| Tony Hill, who lives next door to the runway, said: "I'm delighted with the decision but also relieved as well because of our safety. | Tony Hill, who lives next door to the runway, said: "I'm delighted with the decision but also relieved as well because of our safety. |
"My little boy plays outside and we never know when a plane is going to come down. It's the best news I've had all year."
| "My little boy plays outside and we never know when a plane is going to come down. It's the best news I've had all year."
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