Despite yet another local campaign, on Friday October 28 2011 Essex County Council granted consent for further gravel extraction at Rivenhall Airfield. The owners and operating companies now have three planning consents for the same area of land (two waste plants and the gravel). This most recent consent was despite clear policy objections - mainly that the gravel site is unallocated. Local objectors did manage to secure a boundary change to save most of the protected woodland on the eastern side of the site, but when the consent is carried out, Hangar 2 (the modified T2 hangar on the south side) will be demolished and most likely be sold for scrap, along with several other WW2 buildings, groups of protected trees and most of the remaining taxiways on the airfield.
ABCT is supporting calls for a public enquiry, so do anything you can to halt these plans by Essex County Council and the developers and save what remains of this tremendously historic site which has strong British, American and Polish connections.
Supporters of Rivenhall Airfield are gathering for what may be the last group photo/press call at Hangar 2 on Monday October 31 at 2pm. Given what is known about the developer's intentions, demolition could start within a few months. All who want to protect the remaining parts of this vital airfield heritage and its threatened wildlife are welcome to join them at this event. If coming by car, park at the Polish Camp on Woodhouse Lane and then take the five minutes walk along the road/track that leads directly to the T2 hangar in the woodland.