AS an airfield historian it amazes me that the city of York does not have an airport, even though cities and towns of a much lower status do.

A golden opportunity to develop the existing airfield at Elvington is recommended for refusal by the "powers-that-be" (September 18).

York is promoted as being a centre of commerce and business yet executives, and others, have to use Leeds Bradford Airport then hire a car to reach our city.

A similar attitude prevailed when George Hudson wanted to bring the railways to York. If his opponents had got their way our city would not have prospered.

One reason planning officers are against the new hangars is because the development is in the green belt. If this is so then how has the vast development that has already taken place, both on the old airfield and its out-sites, been allowed?

I understand the concerns of the residents of Elvington village who do not want an airport in their backyard. Hundreds of us felt the same about the Rawcliffe Park and Ride, but were over-ruled.

If mandatory flight regulations are put in place at Elvington the villagers have nothing to fear because pilots would be forced to fly around the north side of the airfield, well away from the village.

Any noise will be far less than that created by the RAF Jet Provosts which used the airfield for more than 30 years until 1992.

So think positively and give York its long overdue airport.

Guy Jefferson,

Ings View,

Rawcliffe, York.

...CONTRARY to what Len Cruddas of the North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce says, there is no "airport" at Elvington.

Official flying from the airstrip ceased in 1995 when the Ministry of Defence stopped using it as an emergency landing strip.

The ministry had allowed use for leisure purposes such as land yachting and rally racing, but this was strictly controlled by an agreement between it and the local authority, with particular emphasis on the need to limit noise.

Since the ministry sold the site to Elvington Park Ltd in 1997 there has been no such agreement.

The new owners appear to adopt a cavalier attitude allowing use on a virtually daily basis, including motor events and racing car "test days", all of which generate excessive noise.

They appear reluctant not only to obtain planning consent for these uses, hence the enforcement action by the city council, but even to discuss the issues with residents and the parish council.

York is well served by airports at Leeds/Bradford, Newcastle and Teesside, all within a reasonably short distance, so there is no need for air taxi services or any other similar use which would only add to existing noise pollution.

R A Starks,

The Green,

Elvington, York.

Updated: 11:10 Wednesday, September 24, 2003