PLONKED in the middle of the Kings Hill estate is an old control tower, the last remnant of the area’s once proud history as a Second World War airfield. The tower is unused, in decay and its owners have no firm plans for its future. We ask: what should be done with the West Malling Airfield Control Tower?

Matthew Holness has the answer.

Mr Holness, who grew up in Mereworth, and as a young boy attended all the Great Warbirds Air Displays at West Malling, has spent his working life connected to the aviation industry.

He gained an aircraft engineering apprenticeship at West Malling Airfield with Metair in 1986-1993 working on the SAAB 340A/B aircraft until the company moved to Biggin Hill in 1993 and became Hunting Aviation.

He said: “I have great memories of being in the control tower when SAAB and Gulfstream GIV aircraft were carrying out their delivery and test flights.

“I was also in the tower during the 10th and last Great Warbirds Air Display, never to be repeated. Fantastic memories that will never to be forgotten.

“Thank God the control tower is listed or the builders would have removed it a long time back.”

Mr Holness, who lives in West Malling, moved into management with Martin Baker Aircraft, the company that produced the world-famous aircraft ejection seats, before joining GEC Avionics at Rochester, as a manager in aircraft weapon system design. He currently works for Virgin Atlantic Airways as the company’s engineering technical publications manager.

He said: “I have always wanted to see the control tower at West Malling Airfield restored to its original condition with Second World War camouflage livery. It’s a piece of Kent history and should be saved as part of our aviation heritage.”

Mr Holness is also a recognised aviation artist. As a member of the Guild of Aviation Artists his paintings are shown at galleries all over the country and sell worldwide.

His ambition is to preserve the control tower and open it as an aviation art gallery and museum.

He said: “There could be a small tea room and a place for local enthusiasts to gather for talks, lectures, conference facilities and fighter/bomber command signing events. Maybe the possibility for a full-size replica Spitfire or Defiant outside too, or any other aircraft that were based at West Malling at sometime throughout its career.”

Anyone interested in helping Mr Holness with his project can contact him on matthew.holness@fly.virgin.com or via the ‘Contacts’ page on his website: mhaviationart.com

PATSY and Clive Dixon also see the future of the control tower as an art gallery.

The couple have writen to Liberty Property, KCC and the Arts Council to try to inflame interest in the idea.

Mr Dixon said: “The control tower has been standing empty for a long time now and is looking quite sad and neglected.

“It would make a great art gallery. It could compliment the New Arts Centre in Chatham and the proposed Artists Quarter in Maidstone, especially with the public art sculptures on Kings Hill.

“It might even be possible to create an ‘Art Trail’ around local towns and villages to encourage tourists and anyone interested in art to visit.

“An art gallery would also give access to people interested in the building’s design and history and it would need minimal investment to bring it up to a usable standard.”

The Dixons, who previously ran their business the Liberty Gallery from Liberty Square in Kings Hill said: “We would appeal to the people of Kings Hill and its surrounding areas – especially the people who have a connection with the history of West Malling Airfield, petition Liberty Property Trust and KCC to start work before the building falls into even further disrepair.”