IF I had a plane, I’d be doing a victory roll! Regular readers will be wearily familiar with my campaign to prevent Old Sarum airfield being swamped with housing.

And now that this historic treasure is safe (for the time being, anyway) let’s thank Laverstock and Ford parish council, along with the residents behind the Facebook page SOS – Save Old Sarum, for the work they put into getting this greedy plan turned down.

In October, a hardy band of us sat through several days of evidence at the airfield owners’ appeal against what they tried to portray as Wiltshire Council’s unreasonable reluctance to clear them for take-off.

On the official site visit, I was appalled to see the dilapidated state that one listed First World War hangar has been allowed to fall into.

I took photos of gaping holes in the roof and windows but was asked by the appeal inspector, at the request of the airfield management, to desist. I’m not surprised they were embarrassed. You don’t need me. Have a look on Google Earth and you can see the damage for yourselves.

I really didn’t expect a happy outcome, given the relentless government pressure for vast new estates. (It will be interesting to see who is made to pay the appeal costs.)

But the inspector, delivering her verdict, said her overriding consideration was whether the scheme would preserve or enhance the airfield conservation area and the setting of its listed buildings, along with the setting of the Old Sarum ancient monument. And she thought it would cause “an inordinate amount of harm”.

To use her words: “It is interesting to consider that Old Sarum Airfield became established in the very shadow of the historic hillfort for the same defensive function of protection and war time engagement.

“I find that linkage palpable, and when standing on the ramparts of the hillfort overlooking the airfield it is easy to imagine the defensive efforts of the military who operated from Old Sarum airfield undertaking sorties during both the First and Second World Wars and the debt of gratitude owed by this nation to those men and women who operated from the air station.”

By George, I think she got it!

All this came about originally because our old district council agreed to an inadequate policy allowing for “sympathetic” development to support the airfield’s continued operation in return for controls on noise.

With no limit on housing numbers specified, the hopes of the airfield owners soared sky-high. Human nature, innit? And Wiltshire’s officers have been trying to bring them back down to earth ever since.

Is there any mechanism under which the policy could be revised? Whatever the answer to that question, perhaps Wiltshire enforcement staff should now get on with ensuring that the hangar damage is repaired, either by serving a notice on the owners or, if necessary, through compulsory purchase.

anneriddle36@gmail.com