A GRASS airstrip at the centre of a bitter and lengthy dispute between a group of villagers and pilots is set to become the focus of a fourth public inquiry in five years.

Planning inspector Isobel McCretton has been appointed by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark to hear an appeal by Bagby Airfield's owner, Martin Scott, against Hambleton District Council's enforcement action over a mobile fuel facility and alleged widening of taxiways at the site near Thirsk.

The inquiry is scheduled to last three days and will be held at the Civic Centre, in Northallerton on May 24 and 25 and at The Golden Lion, Northallerton, on May 26.

Pilots at the airfield, whose users include hobby pilots, high-profile jockeys and utility repair firms, said they felt the authority was persecuting the controversy-plagued site, described the enforcement action as ludicrous and that it was a waste of taxpayers' money.

The latest inquiry, which has been beset by delays, follows the airfield carrying out work to repair a runway taxi strip, which they claim has made the taxiway narrower and had been verbally approved by a senior planning officer.

In 2012, the local government ombudsman condemned the council for "an extreme and most serious failure of planning administration" after losing control over the use of airfield site.

While the council has declined to outline its strategy for regaining planning control over the airfield, a spokesman said it had issued another enforcement notice to protect residents from potential noise from an increase in size of aircraft that may use the airfield.

It said the taxiway work meant the airfield could accommodate more and larger aircraft, which could lead to an increase in the number of aircraft causing disturbance to residents.

He said: "Safeguarding the local amenity remains a key concern for the council."