Crunch meeting over airport plans

Parish councillors remain nervous over expansion plans for a Wolverhampton airport, despite holding a crunch meeting to try and alleviate local fears.

The private and informal meeting was called last night between representatives from Claverley Parish Council and Rolf Levesley, chief executive of South Staffordshire District Council.

Peter Collings, chairman of Claverley Parish Council, and Rod Parr, vice-chairman, met Mr Levesley to discuss future plans of the airport at Halfpenny Green, which parishioners are worried could “slip through the back door”. The meeting follows a move by Mar Properties, airport owners, to build a multi-million pound aviation park at the site.

Mr Collings said the parish council had two main concerns with regards to the airport, one being the new aviation park could mean expansion and two, that the airport operators could develop the aviation park using permitted development rights, meaning they do not have to submit a planning application.

Today, Mr Collings said a “good and open” meeting was held and the parish councillors were encouraged, but remained “cautious”.

“The meeting was to clear the air,” he said. “There has been lots of speculation and press coverage of issues relating to the airport.

“The main issues discussed yesterday were the application for the aviation park proposals by the airport owners and the future of the airport committee.

“The parish council wanted to get the district council’s stance on these issues. South Staffordshire District Council clarified its position and what Mr Levesley was saying seemed good news.”

Mr Levesley assured the parish councillors the district council had written to the airport owners to request they submit a formal planning application, but have not heard back.

Another meeting between the councils has been called for three months time.

By Catherine Roche