A RURAL airfield owner is considering dropping planning appeals to extend his site if locals agree to his new revised plans for the land.

Martin Scott, the owner of Bagby Airfield, near Thirsk, has tried to develop the land for nearly three years.

He lodged plans twice for an 18-bedroomed hotel and six hangars with other proposals with Hambleton District Council.

A residents’ pressure group, Action4Refusal, criticised them with one of the main worries concerns about possible increased nuisance.

The council refused the plans and Mr Scott has sent them to the Planning Inspectorate on appeal.

He has devised a new set of slimmed down proposals and he has indicated that if the council passes these then he might drop the appeals.

The new scheme seeks to drop the hotel in favour of a three bedroomed clubhouse and to build six hangars.

It also seeks to move a helicopter landing pad across the airfield away from nearby homes to reduce noise issues.

Mr Scott initially hoped his application would draw more visitors to Bagby Airfield to spend money locally.

He said: "We’ve taken into account their objections.

"They didn’t like the idea of a hotel so we reduced it to a clubhouse. They wanted to abate the noise from the helicopter so we’ll move the landing pad across the field.

"We have offered to control aircraft movements to Bagby and could fix an annual number of flights and restrict helicopter movements on weekends.

"We could have a consultation group with the villagers and if they think we’re up to something they can raise it.

"We don’t want to become an international airport we want it to be a local airport with upgraded facilities.

"If we enter the plan it will be heard before the appeals and if it was approved in all probability we would withdraw the appeals."

Steven Hornsby, of Action4Refusal, said the plans were not right for an airfield near a village that would only benefit a few.

He said: "It’s an airfield that has grown and we think it should not be any more than an airfield for enthusiasts and it is the right size.

"He has offered to cut flights to 80 a week but we still think that is twice as many as there should be.

"He says he will do things but they’re not set in stone and we hope that the council rejects his plans again."