I note on the plan that there's to be a permissive footpath, which is NOT a public right of way, running north east from the end of the runway to Deal Road and then onto Northbourne.
I'm puzzled as to why they should feel the need for this permissive path.
There's a well-established public footpath (EE420), forming part of the White Cliffs Country Trail, running from Northbourne to Little Mongeham across the end of the airstrip?
Are they suggesting that they don't want people to use EE420 because it's too dangerous for them with planes landing and taking off? If that's the case, then the sensible approached would be for them to have the footpath redirected.
So, why the need for the permissive path?
Please accept my apologies, I had no intention of inflaming your anger issues. I had thought this was a forum. Ordinarily that would be a place or mechanism where diverse views are exchanged respectfully and open minds gain insight into the perspective of others. That is different to a platform which simply acts as an echo chamber for a single point of view and I mistook this for the former.
Before I leave, please be assured that I am aware that I am not welcome in your private space and will certainly not be going there. If you see a passing airplane and choose to wave at it, please feel free to do so. If it is near the ground in a high workload phase of flight (taking off and landing) please don’t expect us to wave back. Unless of course you are standing in the middle of the runway. That is where our focus will be, we are trained.
As for your privacy, apart from being too busy to try to see into your property, we are directed to avoid overflying local habitation at low level and always endeavour to do so. As I mentioned in my post; each airfield has an information card that visiting pilots must read before landing there. It includes vital technical information needed to conduct a safe flight and always gives full details of any places we must avoid. That is done for reasons of noise abatement and privacy. Before visiting we must obtain permission to land from the airfield owner. Their primary concerns are invariably being a good neighbour and enabling safe flight. They never fail to reinforce the need to avoid overflying nearby habitation. The paths that aircraft must follow for take off, approach and landing are always carefully calculated to minimize the impact on neighbouring properties and visiting pilots are always briefed.
I assume from your concern about being choked by fumes that you do not own or ever travel in a motor vehicle. My aircraft, which is typical of the type suitable for landing at the proposed airfield, uses about the same amount of unleaded petrol as the farmer’s Land Rover. If you get less than ten car movements per day in the region, then I suppose you have a point. As for it being a self centred hobby, you can have that and I will certainly go flying in as many elsewheres as I possibly can.
I'm not a member but I've walked the path from Northbourne to Little Mongeham a few times on the way over to the Plough Inn at Ripple.