Suffolk Coastal hopes to be asking for views on a revised set of
proposals from Bentwaters Parks Ltd for a new set of public access
routes in and around the former military airfield in
Rendlesham.
A series of delays since the first consultation in July 2006 has
prevented the Council from finding out what people think about the
scheme which connects existing truncated routes, upgrades some
existing ones and make other changes in Rendlesham, Wantisden and
Chillesford, linking to routes to Rendlesham and Tunstall
Forests.
“It has been very frustrating that we have not been able to make
further progress on these proposals but there have been a number of
delays outside of our control. However, we expect to find out this
month some further details about what the company is proposing,”
said Cllr Rhona Sturrrock, Chairman of the Rights of Way
Committee.
“Bentwaters Parks Ltd modified its proposals to take account of
the responses to the 2006 consultation and these now form part of a
broader environmental management plan which would see some
additional facilities such as informal car parking areas.
“We have not yet seen the final details, which may need planning
permission. However, I am hopeful that over the next couple
of months we will be able to consult widely and urgently on the
proposals for footpaths and bridleways,” added Cllr Sturrock.
Local residents, relevant community organisations,
representatives of access user groups and others will be invited to
take part in the consultation when it is launched, and full details
will be released when available.
The airfield at Bentwaters was created during World War II when
various public roads and rights of way were stopped up under
emergency defence legislation. In 1959 the airfield became a United
States Air Force base and four further sections of footpath were
stopped up so the runway could be extended to accommodate modern
larger aircraft.
The base was closed in 1993 and was sold by the Ministry of
Defence, and split into two parts – the technical base which
contained the runway and its related buildings, and the domestic
base, which was the airfield’s housing. The technical base is now
largely owned by Bentwaters Parks Ltd and under an outstanding
legal agreement it has to address the issue of public access in the
area.