Airfield developer could pull out

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The Snowdonia Society says the assembly government broke the law by arranging a 125-year lease

Mark Hannaby
BBC News

A firm chosen to redevelop a former RAF airfield says it may pull out of the deal if the assembly government does not resolve difficulties soon.

Kemble Air Services are the preferred bidders to lease Llanbedr airfield near Harlech, Gwynedd, but agreeing the deal has been delayed.

It follows claims by the Snowdonia Society the assembly government broke the law by arranging a 125 year lease.

The assembly government said it was considering its options.

If the plans had come to fruition the airfield would already have been leased to commercial air operators Kemble.

But the signing of that lease was aborted at the 11th hour last May.

We believe that the assembly government has acted without due legal process, indeed has broken the law in dealing with this matter Alun Pugh

As a result there is no new commercial airfield and the company who were to run it have been left in limbo.

Kemble spokesman David Young told the BBC's Politics Show Wales programme: "If this got, for any reasons, so much more complicated that there is going to be a cost penalty to the company, there will reach a point where we can't continue.

"And where on earth they're going to find another investor to go to Llanbedr now - a year after, a year on when the world has turned completely, I don't know."

Director of the Snowdonia Society and former culture minister Alun Pugh argues the assembly government failed to observe its duty under Section 62 of the Environment Act to "have regard" to the statutory purposes of a national park like Snowdonia when taking decisions which effect it.

On Thursday, the society took that claim to the assembly's petitions committee.

Mr Pugh said: "We believe that the assembly government has acted without due legal process, indeed has broken the law in dealing with this matter but fortunately there is a way forward.

If we knew at Llanbedr that we were going to face a similar long, prolonged, very expensive process... then I think we'd have to cut and run David Young

"We believe that the Welsh government should now apply for planning permission and make a clear statement of the future intended uses of the site."

Kemble say planning permission for aviation uses is not required as Llanbedr was an MoD airfield until 2004.

They say they just need a certificate of lawfulness for an existing use, formally establishing their right to continue aviation at Llanbedr.

A long, costly, full planning process is not something they are prepared to face, particularly as they are already involved in a planning dispute with North Wiltshire council over their air operation at Kemble.

David Young said: "If we knew at Llanbedr that we were going to face a similar long, prolonged, very expensive process with no guarantee of getting our costs back then I think we'd have to cut and run.

Plans to develop the airfield have been subject to delays

"The ministers have got to say 'Enough! Section 62 is answered, we must pursue our policy with this airfield and with this excellent plan from Kemble to regenerate Llanbedr airfield and get on with it'. They need to do that.

"They really need to get to grips with this because anything else, planning enquiries, judicial reviews, whatever, would be a tragedy for Llanbedr. It's going to knock it back 10 years or more."

Those from Llanbedr who welcome the jobs and regeneration the airfield's would-be developers promise also presented a petition to the assembly's committee on Thursday, signed by more than 1,200 people.

The petition against the airfield was only signed by 156 people. The pro-airfield lobby are deeply concerned that Kemble might pull out of the deal.

Pro-airfield petitioner Gwynli Jones said: "I think I could go as far as to say it would be impossible to find somebody else like Kemble.

"I've flown down to Kemble a few times and it's well organised. I'd like to see them come up to Llanbedr to do the same there."

The minister responsible, Ieuan Wyn Jones, was unavailable for interview.

A spokesman said the assembly government has sought legal advice regarding its compliance with certain provisions of the Environment Act following the Snowdonia Society's challenge.

Once this advice is complete, the deputy first minister will make a decision on the future of Llanbedr.