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Fight for new airfield on farmland at Mongeham drags on as council launch second consultation

A consultation on plans for an airfield near Deal is being re-run after more documents have been submitted.

The proposal is for a 20 plane facility on farmland at Mongeham, which the applicants say will, in time, help revolutionise green aviation and silent aircraft.

The proposed field for the airstrip. Picture: Chocks Go Away
The proposed field for the airstrip. Picture: Chocks Go Away

Pressure group Chocks Go Away have campaigned against the project, and so far raised £16,000 which helped hire a planning consultant to scrutinise the application.

Valerie Owen, of Le Vaillant Owen consultancy, says she uncovered 28 documents related to the application which had not been published on the Dover District Council (DDC) planning portal.

The documents have since been added to the portal and a new 21-day consultation has been launched.

Campaigners are now encouraging people to read them and comment before March 11.

In a new leaflet set to be distributed in this weekend, a CGA spokesman said: “If it wasn’t for the donations, up to £16,000 so far, our planning consultant would never have found the issue of these missing documents and the case would have been decided with this information never having been properly scrutinised.”

Campaigners outside Dover District Council's offices in 2021 Picture: Chocks Go Away
Campaigners outside Dover District Council's offices in 2021 Picture: Chocks Go Away

The application, first submitted in April 2021, is for farmland between Willow Woods Road, Little Mongeham and Mill Lane, Coulson Grove, Northbourne.

If it is approved there will be a runway, helipad, two aircraft hangars for up to 20 aircraft, flight office and toilet.

There will also be a workshop and plant storage building, 10 glamping pods, associated parking and a vehicular access track.

Applicant and land owner Richard Ledger intends to lease part of one of his fields to a small group of keen aviators who have been displaced from their long standing home in north Kent.

It would be for the purpose of recreational aviation involving small aircraft of up to four seats.

Campaigners have placed banners around the villages Picture: Chocks Go Away
Campaigners have placed banners around the villages Picture: Chocks Go Away

The site would be one of the first ever to have a charging point for the first all-electric Pipistrel Velis Electro two-seater aircraft which is to be certified in the UK.

Mr Ledger previously said: “With the need to protect the environment we have seen an explosion in the numbers of electric cars on the roads.

“As battery technology improves there is little doubt aviation will go the same way.

“It’s extremely exciting to know that my land is now in line to play a major role in this move to turn private flying even greener.”

Opponents from nearby villagers fear it will cause noise, pollution and harm to wildlife.

MP Natalie Elphicke is also opposing the scheme on grounds that it could cause environmental effects and noise nuisance in the rural area.

Campaigner David Rowbotham said: “The campaign has been going for nearly a year and we have had incredible support from the wider community.

“It is important that the public and residents of Deal take the opportunity to respond.”

A DDC spokesman said: “New information had been provided by the applicant to respond to questions and issues raised following the initial advertising of the application.

“As much of this information was submitted incrementally however, a decision was made to wait until all the relevant material was in prior to placing it on the website, with the intention of then carrying out a second round of advertising/consultation inviting the public and others to make further comments.

“Prior to the re-advertising taking place, the new material was placed on the website in a manner that allowed the public to see what information was new.

“The objective was to enable the public and others to have all the relevant information available on which to comment on.”

To find out more about the application, visit DDC’s planning portal and search for application 21/00626.

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