HOORAY for Annie! At least she brought the debate over what the city wanted away from the high profile campaign for keeping the meadows of Britford.

Old Sarum is a major part of the city’s attraction — but there are severe threats to its situation, very clear when gazing northwards over the Plain.

The open fields to the east were probably the site of King Henry’s First Royal Tournament in 1196, in 1917 laid out as a military airfield, Old Sarum. It is now the second oldest in Britain — and still used by light aircraft.

At one time it was occupied by the RAF and the city of Salisbury allowed the squadron to fly the city flag and the city coat of arms was worn on the aircraft.

Still the home and training base for enthusiastic flyers, some of whom may go on to be the captain of your holiday jet.

The original 1917 Belfast wooden hangars are still there, some now occupied by the newest and expanding occupant of the airfield complex, the RAF museum from Boscombe Down.

Some of the original RAF buildings have been converted to civilian offices and stores, but the area, with the old and busy control tower, still has a fascination as a working aerodrome and a great tourism and employment complex.

The latest threat to the existence of the grass- field aerodrome of housing development within the conservation area anywhere must be opposed. The “noisy little aeroplanes” — as one resident of Stratford has already called them — is one objection to the continued use of the aerodrome, though also living under the flightpath of the small planes, I don’t often notice the trainee pilots overhead.

Given the large, necessary (and conserved) grassy area, the planners will naturally be tempted to expand once the 450 new houses are built round the edge and our city will become two, with building possible between Old Sarum and Amesbury. Please save Old Sarum aerodrome with no more development on the airfield area.

DON CROSS Salisbury