A TRIBUNAL has ruled a council was wrong in withholding certain information from campaigners opposed to an airfield.

The long-running saga over the operation and development of Bagby Airfield, near Thirsk, has taken a new turn as a tribunal has decided key correspondence between Hambleton District Council and the airfield should have been made available to protesters.

Campaigners with Action4Refusal were fighting for the release of certain communication materials as it sought to prove the council’s decision to pursue enforcement action against the airfield wasn’t working.

The tribunal noted in its report that enforcement action was being carried out by the council because the airfield had been "operated in contravention" of planning permission governing the number of flights.

The report by Judge Fiona Henderson states: “The council missed a number of opportunities to notice the unlawful use and to take enforcement action. As a result the unauthorised use became immune from enforcement action. As a result the unauthorised use became immune from enforcement action and the council has lost control over the many aircraft using the airfield.”

Previously, the Information Commissioner ruled Hambleton District Council was right to withhold some correspondence from campaigners on the grounds it was private information. But that decision has now been overturned by the latest ruling, as the tribunal ruled the public interest outweighed the private interest.

Judge Henderson’s decision highlights issues between the local authority and the airport. The report says: “It is apparent that letters were not responded to and requests for information ignored.”

It adds: “The disputed information shows a hectoring tone and attempts to put restrictions on the council’s involvement. The airfield is trying to restrict the council’s activity…”

Now that information has been released, the campaign group says it shows the council has been intimidated out of taking control of the air field and demonstrates that the council’s course of action in applying enforcement notices on the airfield has not worked.

A spokesman for Action4Refusal said: “The emails they have now disclosed demonstrate the lack of co-operation, the threats and so on against the council.

“They [the council] said they would carry out enforcement and a monitoring regime and gain control back. We said the airfield had to be curtailed, that was the only way to deal with it, and we have been proved right.”

However airfield bosses have vehemently denied that council officials have been obstructed in their duties.

Owner Martin Scott said: “The only restrictions as to access are those that relate to health and safety, such as crossing the active runway or wearing Day-Glo jackets.

“There have been 24 enforcements against this airfield and therefore 24 visits and the only incident I remember was where an official was told not to cross the active as an aircraft was coming in.”

Hambleton District Council was unable to comment.