BURN Airfield in North Yorkshire could be sold off for almost £3 million to help pay for the Government’s spending cuts.

The airfield is currently owned by Yorkshire Forward, but that organisation is due to be disbanded in 2012.

There are now fears that the Government will try to sell off some of the development agency’s £60 million worth of assets to fill Government coffers.

That could include Burn Airfield which is valued at £2.9 million.

The Government has said there would be no “automatic presumption” that local councils would take on Yorkshire Forward sites.

But there have been calls for any money to stay in the district. Yorkshire Forward has been in talks with Selby District Council for some time about the potential future uses for the site, although The Press understands that there have been no formal discussions regarding the ownership of Burn Airfield in the future.

However, Yorkshire Forward would like to see its assets benefit the regions – including Selby – rather than going to the Government. Thea Stein, chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, said: “We are currently reviewing Yorkshire Forward’s assets and are in discussion as to how these will be dealt with prior to March 2012. Any decision reached will of course be subject to Government approval.

“Our fixed assets are worth approximately £60million. Yorkshire Forward invested in these assets as strategic investments to help regenerate specific areas and unlock the potential of those areas, as part of wider schemes.

“I’d like to see these transfer to regional partners to continue this work and benefit the regional economy long-term.”

Yorkshire Forward also owns Holgate Park in York, next to the CPP site, which in March of this year was valued at £875,000.

But Coun Steve Galloway said that Holgate Park could potentially be used as access for any development at the nearby York Central site.

Therefore he said it is unlikely that any purchaser would get planning permission until a decision was taken regarding York Central, effectively meaning Holgate Park would not be a viable investment for any potential buyer.