Following news that the Ministry of Defence is to place temporary steel safety barriers at Kennley Common airfield, East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth has tabled a number of Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State asking for further details.

The original plans to erect a perimeter fence around the site were denied planning permission and the Ministry Defence chose not to appeal. However, following discussions with the Health and Safety Executive, the department submitted a revised design late last year, with the temporary barriers being erected in lieu of a planning decision by Croydon Council.

Mr Ainsworth commented:

“I have asked the Minister for more information as it seems unclear from the information provided exactly what these ‘temporary steel pedestrian safety barriers’ will actual entail.

“I remain unconvinced that a fence is needed at all – be it temporary or otherwise – given that local residents and aviation users have already co-existed quite happily for some time. Given the current economic woes, I’m quite sure that the £100,000 earmaked for the project could be far better spent elsewhere, not least on the wellbeing of our troops in Afghanistan” 

Notes:

The questions tabled by Mr Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence:

• How much he has budgeted for the erection and removal of the temporary steel barriers proposed at Kenley Common, and whether this is included within the current budget?
• When he expects the temporary barriers at Kenley Common to be erected; and when he plans to remove them?
• What discussions he had with 1) Croydon Council; 2) Tandridge District Council; 3) the City of London; and 4) users of Kenley Common regarding his plans to erect temporary fencing at the Common?