Tremendously historic and popular Yorkshire airfield Driffield, already under enormous threat, has now just seen its Officers’ Mess building being suddenly demolished.
Current owner Strawsons Property claims that the company ’... is not aware of them [this and other buildings] being of any particular historic interest’. Any current and possible other demolition however would be the most grave error as, quite apart from Driffield having played a major part in winning both World Wars and being heavily bombed during the Battle of Britain, this simply does not make economic sense in these particularly difficult times. The Officers’ Mess could easily have been saved and then employed for alternative uses to exceptionally good effect as already happens with many thousands of other disused airfield buildings and facilities across Britain. Two separate developers had indeed shown considered interest in refurbishing this building.
Local council worries about levels of safety were meanwhile unfounded as the Officers’ Mess was extremely well built in the first place. What should have resulted was to first of all ensure full security of the area to counter vandalism, prior to allowing imaginative business ideas to emerge.
The local populace furthermore have unfortunately tended to be particularly apathetic about their heroic and historic airfield but should do well to remember that Driffield remains very popular and affectionately remembered across the world. Interest in Britain’s airfields and all they represent, both historically and socially, is proven to be huge and therefore to just destroy Driffield Airfield would be the most gross folly and morally wrong.
Therefore do everything you urgently can to save Driffield’s other buildings and the entire airfield through contacting either ABCT at info@abctemail.org.uk or mass media sources in your area.