Park airfield request turned down

Developers now face submitting new applications for the airfield

A request to continue using an airfield on the site of a former RAF base in Gwynedd has been turned down.

The Snowdonia National Park Authority said it is refusing the certificates that would allow the site at Llanbedr, near Harlech, to re-open.

The authority said the decision was taken following external legal advice.

The developer has said it will carry on with plans for a private airfield and business units, but it will lead to a delay, and possibly a planning inquiry.

The announcement is a blow to local campaigners who have been fighting to see the site re-opened, after it closed in 2004.

County councillor, Evie Morgan Jones said the development was needed in the area.

New jobs

"It's been dragging on for so many years now, and these have been the only people interested in purchasing the land," he said.

"It means getting more employment to the area. The problem is at the moment is our young people are leaving the area because there is no work for them.

"There's great support - it is very important for the area."

The site was bought from the Ministry of Defence in December 2008 by Kemble Air Services, who say reopening the site will create hundreds of jobs in the area.

As a society we have always pressed for a full and public debate on this and the best way to do that is to have a full and formal application for planning permission Alun Pugh, Snowdonia Society

The company said it was "deeply shocked" by the park authority's decision.

"It would appear now there are likely to be further delays in re-breathing life and investment back into the Airfield," said a spokesperson for Kemble.

The company said it now meant it was now unable to let buildings on the airfield to businesses who were committed to taking space in the site.

Kemble's commercial director, Lee Paul added: "We can only offer our profuse apologies to these and the local contractors whom we had entered into arrangements with to carry out works across the site in readiness for these new tenants.

"We have also had to lay off our newly appointed Estates Manager for the time being until such time as this matter is finally resolved."

The park authority has told the firm that it now has several options open to it, including submitting new requests for certificates, appealing the decision, or submitting planning applications for the site.

Planning process

The authority notes that to date, it has not received any planning applications for the airfield.

However the decision has been welcomed by the Snowdonia Society, which has led a campaign opposing the development.

Its director, Alun Pugh said: "It's a question of planning. The site was used by the military in recent years for a very specialist type of research and development, but that doesn't give them carte blanche to conduct all sorts of general aviation operations.

"As a society we have always pressed for a full and public debate on this and the best way to do that is to have a full and formal application for planning permission."