A ROW over whether a grass airstrip can retain its jet fuel facility looks set to be decided at the fourth public inquiry over a grass airstrip in as many years.

Hambleton District Council has issued enforcement action against Bagby Airfield, near Thirsk, stating its fuel tanks mounted on trailers, a pipe, a fuel dispenser and a connected sampling unit constituted a breach of planning control.

The fuel tanks, which the airfield’s management views as important to its economic viability, are used by numerous pilots who say it is vital to keep the facility in the area due to the absence of alternatives.

While a number of nearby residents say they do not have an issue with the airfield, campaign group Action4Refusal claims noise emanating from the site, and in particular helicopters that refuel there, wrecks their quality of life.

The latest action follows the council launching an unprecedented wave of enforcement action against the airfield in 2011, which included the Yorkshire Air Ambulance stopping using its only base in North.

In January 2014, a government planning inspector ruled the jet fuel facility had an “unacceptable impact, principally through noise and disturbance” and must be removed within six months.

The airfield reacted by replacing its permanent jet fuel facility with a mobile one on a trailer, in the understanding that it would not be subject to planning control.

A council spokesman said it believed the fuel facility remained a breach of planning at the site whether or not it was mobile, and it was thereby obliged to take enforcement action.

Should the airfield’s owner, Martin Scott, appeal against the enforcement action, it is believed the Planning Inspectorate could consider the appeal alongside one relating to an alleged widening of a taxiway leading to the grass airstrip in September.

A spokesman for Action4Refusal said he was pleased the authority had launched the enforcement action.

But airfield manager Steve Hoyle reacted with incredulity to the notice – and pledged it would be fought all the way.

“This is just mental,” he said. “It’s as if there was a vendetta against us.”

He added: “It’s going to be another inquiry and another waste of money. We were basically told by the council and the inspector to put the bowser on wheels which is what we did.

“We need jet fuel to survive and they seem to trying to force us to close.”