Flying Club Fights SMart Wind’s Plans

North Coates Flying Club launched a petition to fight SMart Wind’s plans to build work compounds near the Club’s facilities, which would serve the cable-laying work at the Hornsea offshore wind project.

The Club explained on its website: “The proposed development by Smart Wind would mean the erection of work compounds at the end of our active runway 05 and other compounds within our circuit pattern which would affect the flight safety of aircraft using North Coates Airfield and could threaten its very existence.”

The Club wants the developer to construct the compounds on another location, as the runway already has houses built along one side of it, and the compounds would be located along the other side, which would jeopardize take-offs and landings in emergency situations, Club Chairman Steve Charters is quoted by the Grimsby Telegraph as saying.

SMart Wind said that it has discussed the situation with the North Coates Airfield and will not build a temporary compound at the end of the runway. Also, the company will revise and discuss the location for other compounds.