A flying field up for rent! A flying field WITH planning permission, that's up for rent! But it would appear a flying field that nobody seems to want! But this is just the position in which Norman Carter and his fellow Felbridge Flyers, on the Surrey/Sussex border find themselves. Norman takes up the story.

Finding that our original flying site was under threat, we managed to find another field. Having gone through the pain of getting planning permission for our new site at Edenbridge in Kent, we did not lose our Surrey site as we expected, the land was withdrawn from sale (thank goodness).

The members felt unable to fund or maintain this additional new site so we decided to give it up (are we mad or what?). I said to the farmer that I would help him find another Club, which I thought I had done. At the eleventh hour the new club pulled out saying they could not meet the noise limits (only 81dba as applied by the Council). You have to wonder what they are doing currently and is it any wonder they cannot fly from their current field at weekends?

I first made this appeal in RCM&E last October. We had a great response, but as I have said, the club that came forward, pulled out. So the appeal for a new club goes out once more, through the pages of 'Flying Sites'.

Not just any flying field but one with planning permission allowing flying everyday. "Impossible" I hear you say but strangely true, read on. The picture shows how good the location is. The ideal flying field, top of a hill, virtually flat 30 acres, no trees in awkward places, super smooth air, more than 650 metres from any houses, friendly farmer but no Club.

Why? I hear you ask, lead me to it. Well it is a long story. A Club had been flying from the site for almost 3 years when the Council enforcement office said they would have to stop or apply for change of use planning permission. The Club decided to apply, with the help of the BMFA Site liaison officer (Roger Bellingham), they made their application. All questions were answered and after several on site meetings with the planning officer and much dedicated work by the Club Committee the recommendation was that permission be given. The planning Committee did approve the application in February 2000 for a trial period of 2 years. The conditions are quite tight but easily achieved.

The Club operating from the site was only a small one with 2 other fields and could not afford to pay and maintain all three. So, with the threat of losing one of their other fields removed the members voted at the AGM to let the new field go, even though they had gone through the considerable pain of gaining planning permission.

So we now have a superb flying field, still with a visible mown runway, planning permission for model flying with no one to use it. The field is all to grass with sheep grazing at some times of the year. The outgoing Club has said they would help the farmer to find another Club to use the land - is this Utopia or what?

The rent is considered modest (£1200 pa or about £2 per month per member assuming 50 members) but to keep the runway cut really needs a mini tractor, this can even be stored in the farm buildings. It never ceases to amaze me but modellers will happily pay hundreds of pounds for radios/engines but begrudge £2 - £3 per month for a field to use them in as unreasonable!

The field is near Edenbridge in Kent, and has easy access for cars right up to behind the pits area (the other side of a hedge for safety).

If any Clubs are interested please get in touch with Norman Carter via e-mail to carternm@btinternet.com. I don't think he will be without a Club for very long.