A FORMER wartime airfield in the Vale of York could once more be used for flying.

Planning officers are urging the granting of a 12-month temporary consent for a scheme to allow land at Tholthorpe, near Easingwold, to be used as an airstrip.

The officials had previously recommended Hambleton District Council's planning committee to refuse the scheme, principally on the grounds of possible noise disturbance for local residents.

A decision on the proposal, on a Second World War concrete landing strip surrounded by farmland at Carl House, Tholthorpe, was deferred by the planning committee last month for a further noise disturbance assessment to be carried out.

The original plan had the backing of the local parish council, though there were three letters of objection from nearby residents, and the Ministry of Defence also objected because of fears it might pose a safety hazard to aircraft from RAFs Linton-on-Ouse, Dishforth and Topcliffe.

But councillors will hear on Thursday that following the ministry's comments, the applicant revised the operation of the proposed airstrip to weekends only.

And a report from director of planning and environmental services, Steve Quartermain, said: "The applicant has agreed to a restriction as to the number of take-offs and landings within one day to be 12 take-offs and 12 landings and that the hours of operation are restricted so that there will be no flying between the hours 8pm and 9am."

Mr Quartermain said the applicant has confirmed that if the proposal was approved there would be no aerobatic flying allowed over an operational airfield, and environmental health officers felt that take-off and landing noise may not amount to a statutory nuisance.

Updated: 11:00 Saturday, October 27, 2001