From: janet roxburgh
Sent: 22 October 2011 23:45
To: Planning LDF
Subject: Filton Airfield

We are particularly interested to hear what you think about the following questions and it would be helpful if responses were structured in this way:1) Do you accept that the closure of Filton Airfield is the only realistic option? Yes / No No I do accept that closure is the only way forward.2) If No to 1) above, what would you suggest as a way to keep the Airfield viable? Do you have any information to support this? I would suggest that to loose such a valuable resource is both short sighted and not in line with the present government's transport policy. The air strip would be perfect for airfreight landings as there is a rain link running through the site which can link with other freight hubs - Avonmouth, Portishead etc with the minimum of investment required. This freight cannot be transported through bristol international airport as the capacity is not there and the airport concentrates on tourism and passenger traffic. Filton could also serve business travel as it has close transport links to rail and motorway services and hotels and conference venues n Bristol. It is also close to golfing and other leisure activities. These activities would make Filton viable and bring needed employment to the area, increasing timely freight distribution, enhancing the business opportunities, and further developing the tourism in the area to bring in much needed income, to challenge the supremacy of Bath. Filton Airfield could also be developed to make an overflow airport for Bristol in the future since air travel is set to increase. Lulsgate is often fogbound, whilst Filton with it's flightpath straight out over the estuary is not subject to these delays. More houses may seem desirable but the area is already congested with cars and there are not the local schools, shops, hospitals, doctors surgeries etc to take the extra population. In the present uncertain economic climate mortgages are hard to come by so there is no guarantee that the houses would be sold, and with high unemployment there is nobody in a position to buy a house. It is far better to develop the airfield so that jobs and income can be brought into the area and develop the valuable resource that is already there than loose it to houses that may never be bought.3) If Yes to 1) above, how do you think the Airfield should be reused/redeveloped? What would you wish to see included in the redevelopment?