A COUNCIL lost planning control of a controversial airfield, doing local residents an “injustice”, a damning report reveals today.

Action4Refusal, which represents residents in Bagby and Thirkleby, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, complained to the local government ombudsman that Hambleton District Council did not control the use of Bagby Airfield, which overlooks the A19.

In a report published today, ombudsman Anne Seex said the authority had repeatedly failed the villagers since the airfield’s original owner, Phillip Lassey, retired in 1997.

Ms Seex said the council granted planning permission for 40 take-offs and 40 landings a week at the grass airstrip in 1980, but specified flying had to cease when Mr Lassey stopped occupying the site.

She said as the council’s planning officers did not take any action to stop flights when Mr Lassey retired, and never monitored its use due to a lack of resources, it led to a situation where the current owner, Martin Scott, was able to assert immunity from the 1980 restriction on flight numbers.

The ombudsman said despite residents repeatedly alerting the council to alleged planning breaches, it did nothing to regain planning control until the end of 2007.

Ms Seex said planning control at Bagby Airfield had been particularly important as the Civil Aviation Authority could not regulate its use and there was no power to enforce against air noise.

She said: “The council’s maladministration caused residents the injustice of disturbance from flights and a sense of frustration and apprehension about the possibility of uncontrolled expansion.

“Losing planning control over the use of land as an airfield is an extreme and most serious failure of planning administration.”

Ms Seex recommended the council to consider launching a discontinuation order at the airfield. She also said the authority should give £5,000 compensation to both Bagby and Thirkleby for community projects.

A council spokeswoman said councillors would discuss the report in June before responding to the ombudsman.

Stephen Hornsby, of Action4Refusal, said campaigners were satisfied with the ombudsman’s findings, that a compromise solution to issues at the airfield was unacceptable and that the council’s politicians needed to start exercising control over officers.

Mr Scott, meanwhile, said he sympathised with the council’s officers and had no concerns over the airfield’s position.

A public inquiry is due to be held next month into numerous alleged unauthorised developments at the airfield.