PLANS to bring a former Vale of York Second World War air base back into use look set to be rejected due to fears about noise problems.

Members of Hambleton District Council's planning committee will be recommended on Thursday to refuse an application to use the concrete landing strip at Carle House Farm, Tholthorpe, near Easingwold, for light aircraft.

The Ministry of Defence has raised objections, fearing the new use could pose a danger to aircraft from nearby RAF Linton-on-Ouse and to "users of RAF Dishforth and RAF Topcliffe who also use the airspace above Tholthorpe".

But these have been overcome because the plan for the old airfield restricts its use to weekends, according to Steve Quartermain, Hambleton Council's director of planning and environmental services.

Tholthorpe Parish Council has made no representations about the scheme, though three letters of objection were received following initial publicity, raising issues including "noise pollution in a rural environment" and an increase in the risk of accidents.

A letter backing the proposal has also been received, plus an additional five letters of objection from residents. But Mr Quartermain's report adds that the council's environmental health department, unlike the Ministry of Defence, would have preferred weekday use.

"It is anticipated that weekend flying in this location would have a significant likelihood of noise complaints from nearby residents, as they may feel that they already tolerate significant aircraft activity from RAF Linton-on-Ouse from Monday to Friday, and the introduction of weekend flying may well lead to annoyance.

"If noise complaints are received we have no jurisdiction to control aircraft noise under the statutory nuisance provisions. Refusal of the application would be the preferred outcome - if, however, the aircraft movements were very limited, the impact of the noise could be minimised."

Environmental health officers add that if permission were granted, the strip's use should be limited to 12 take-offs and landings a day, with no flying between 10pm and 9am.

But Mr Quartermain recommends refusal, saying "the additional flying activities proposed would have a detrimental impact" on local residents who already experience noise due to flying.

He pointed out that no details of the potential number of aircraft using the strip had been received, except that a number of aircraft owners had expressed a desire to use it in preference to an existing grass one.

Updated: 12:02 Monday, September 03, 2001