Gliding club’s historic home safeguarded for three years (From York Press)

Burn gliding club’s historic home safeguarded for three years

8:40am Thursday 19th July 2012 in News

A NORTH Yorkshire gliding club has sealed a deal which will allow it to stay at an historic airfield for three more years.

Burn Gliding Club, which has more than 100 members aged between 13 and 91, is based at Burn Airfield, near Selby , and has agreed a new lease with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to remain at the site.

The airfield was used as a base for Halifax bombers to launch raids on Germany during the Second World War and was one of 40 “undecided assets” belonging to the now-abolished regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

The club’s current lease expired in February leading to fears the airfield, valued at £2 million, would be sold.

The club has now said it is prepared to make an offer to buy other parts of the site.

Chairman Tony Flannery said: “After several months of concern about our future at Burn, we are delighted the club’s home is secure.

“We can now plan to improve the facilities and continue to teach local people, especially youngsters, to fly so they can enjoy the sport of gliding.”

The airfield was one of three sites previously earmarked by North Yorkshire County Council for an incinerator, before Allerton Park, between Harrogate and York, was chosen as the preferred location, while £1 billion plans for a science development there also fell through.