Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Discussions regarding historic aircraft, restoration and preservation etc
Post Reply
User avatar
Southendnick
Posts: 2068
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 8:30 am
Location: Southend-on-Sea

Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Southendnick »

Whilst it is only on social media so naturally until something is officially announced a friend who works on one of the larger aircraft has said that the whole site is to be given over to car storage including the area the aircraft are on.

If true, it would be a great loss of so many incredibly rare aircraft, the smaller aircraft could at some cost be removed but the large birds...
Spelling mistakes and grammatical error specialist

http://www.southendtimeline.com

User avatar
CJS
Posts: 8866
Joined: Thu 15 Jul 2010, 3:30 pm
Location: Hogwarts

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by CJS »

Well they can fly the Victor out :hide:
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

User avatar
boff180
UKAR Staff
Posts: 9830
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 2:28 pm
Location: Solihull
Contact:

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by boff180 »

I can only find one planning application on the system.... which was due for decision mid last month.

This application does not expand the area to be used for vehicle storage over what was granted in 1998.
This area does not include the runway.
There are a significant number of dispersals not included in the storage area.
The taxiways are not included in the application.

The application does alter a condition in the original 1998 application regarding the number of vehicles that can be stored on the site and/or total number of movements in or out of the site.

So unless someone can point me to something else, I'm calling this rumour a.... rumour.

Andy

106500
Posts: 504
Joined: Sun 27 May 2012, 9:14 am

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by 106500 »

While not stating a view on its merits either one way or another, such uncertainties do give credence to the informed decision taken by VTTS not to relocate a certain airframe to this place! :smile:

GertrudetheMerciless
Posts: 911
Joined: Mon 08 Sep 2008, 7:25 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by GertrudetheMerciless »

106500 wrote:While not stating a view on its merits either one way or another, such uncertainties do give credence to the informed decision taken by VTTS not to relocate a certain airframe to this place! :smile:


Or you could take the view that the Vulcan would have enabled the development of a heritage facility with unrestricted runway use and good access. Lots of aeroplanes at Bruntingthorpe that would have been far more attractive alongside the Vulcan.

Anyway, as “informed” as a decision taken 5 years ago was, you assume the Vulcan was even welcome at Bruntingthorpe, considering what the Walton family did to save the aircraft and the thanks they got...

Domvickery
UKAR Staff
Posts: 2245
Joined: Tue 02 Sep 2008, 6:57 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Domvickery »

Can we not turn this into an XH558 thread please, there's more to Bruntingthorpe than an aircraft that isnt there
Free straws available to clutch at - PM me. Inventor of the baguette scale

Rich.B
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu 07 Feb 2019, 4:11 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Rich.B »

The museum as been closed at the weekend since before xmas. No weekend visitors for the aircraft area, due to works being carried out close to that area. Sure it will be only a tempeory measure. The airfield is going to be for many years to come with strong investment in the place with the test track. Sure the track will work hand in hand with this, just like it as over the last 30 years.

GertrudetheMerciless
Posts: 911
Joined: Mon 08 Sep 2008, 7:25 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by GertrudetheMerciless »

Domvickery wrote:Can we not turn this into an XH558 thread please, there's more to Bruntingthorpe than an aircraft that isnt there


He started it! :biggrin: :lol:

And personally, having donated much time, blood, sweat and tears to the aircraft resident at Brunty, know that point very well indeed.

Alanko
Posts: 560
Joined: Fri 24 Jul 2015, 11:24 am

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Alanko »

GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
106500 wrote:Or you could take the view that the Vulcan would have enabled the development of a heritage facility with unrestricted runway use and good access. Lots of aeroplanes at Bruntingthorpe that would have been far more attractive alongside the Vulcan.


Given that none of them fly, do they need unrestricted runway use?

GertrudetheMerciless
Posts: 911
Joined: Mon 08 Sep 2008, 7:25 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by GertrudetheMerciless »

Alanko wrote:
GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
106500 wrote:Or you could take the view that the Vulcan would have enabled the development of a heritage facility with unrestricted runway use and good access. Lots of aeroplanes at Bruntingthorpe that would have been far more attractive alongside the Vulcan.


Given that none of them fly, do they need unrestricted runway use?


If you want to do regular fast taxi runs, yes.

Reds Rolling
Posts: 757
Joined: Thu 12 Sep 2013, 10:50 am

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Reds Rolling »

GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
Alanko wrote:
GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
106500 wrote:Or you could take the view that the Vulcan would have enabled the development of a heritage facility with unrestricted runway use and good access. Lots of aeroplanes at Bruntingthorpe that would have been far more attractive alongside the Vulcan.


Given that none of them fly, do they need unrestricted runway use?


If you want to do regular fast taxi runs, yes.

Even with 558 and a heritage facility there, I doubt there'd be unrestricted runway access. The owners aren't going to turn down good business just so some old plane(s) can burn up the runway a few times.

DOUGHNUT
Posts: 420
Joined: Sat 21 Mar 2009, 2:49 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by DOUGHNUT »

"The owners aren't going to turn down good business just so some old plane(s) can burn up the runway a few times."

True the owners have a business to run but if you look back over the last twenty years the owners have tried on several occasions to increase Bruntingthorpe's aviation activities. Both aviation business and museum / heritage operations were supported by David Walton, it was the local authority who continued to refuse permission for airfield operations.
Sad out come for all involved. Not only the museum groups, remember GJD Aviation / Gary Spoors invested time and effort into Bruntingthorpe guess the lack of support from the local authority forced his hand.

106500
Posts: 504
Joined: Sun 27 May 2012, 9:14 am

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by 106500 »

Reds Rolling wrote:
GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
Alanko wrote:
GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
106500 wrote:Or you could take the view that the Vulcan would have enabled the development of a heritage facility with unrestricted runway use and good access. Lots of aeroplanes at Bruntingthorpe that would have been far more attractive alongside the Vulcan.


Given that none of them fly, do they need unrestricted runway use?


If you want to do regular fast taxi runs, yes.

Even with 558 and a heritage facility there, I doubt there'd be unrestricted runway access. The owners aren't going to turn down good business just so some old plane(s) can burn up the runway a few times.


I take it we’ve now heard the last of the “what about a one off ferry flight” and “they haven’t a clue what they’re doing up there in Donny” statements and similar then! Hate to say it but it sounds like they were right after all :grin:

User avatar
CJS
Posts: 8866
Joined: Thu 15 Jul 2010, 3:30 pm
Location: Hogwarts

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by CJS »

106500 wrote:
Reds Rolling wrote:
GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
Alanko wrote:
GertrudetheMerciless wrote:
106500 wrote:Or you could take the view that the Vulcan would have enabled the development of a heritage facility with unrestricted runway use and good access. Lots of aeroplanes at Bruntingthorpe that would have been far more attractive alongside the Vulcan.


Given that none of them fly, do they need unrestricted runway use?


If you want to do regular fast taxi runs, yes.

Even with 558 and a heritage facility there, I doubt there'd be unrestricted runway access. The owners aren't going to turn down good business just so some old plane(s) can burn up the runway a few times.


I take it we’ve now heard the last of the “what about a one off ferry flight” and “they haven’t a clue what they’re doing up there in Donny” statements and similar then! Hate to say it but it sounds like they were right after all :grin:


Thread locked in 5...4...3...2...
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

Domvickery
UKAR Staff
Posts: 2245
Joined: Tue 02 Sep 2008, 6:57 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Domvickery »

Domvickery wrote:Can we not turn this into an XH558 thread please, there's more to Bruntingthorpe than an aircraft that isnt there


Striiiiiiikeeeeee twooooooooo
Free straws available to clutch at - PM me. Inventor of the baguette scale

User avatar
Burleysway
Posts: 1213
Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 5:30 pm
Location: Leicester

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Burleysway »

Update Re Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground via their website posted today

https://www.bruntingthorpe.com/news-and ... cquisition

User avatar
sdad
Posts: 474
Joined: Mon 24 Sep 2012, 2:53 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by sdad »

They are very clear that the Museum is currently closed with no info on re-opening. If the new owners already have a base there, perhaps they will understand (even enjoy) what goes on with the fast taxi days.

Xm657
Posts: 478
Joined: Sat 27 Aug 2016, 6:41 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by Xm657 »

Doesn't sound good. I get the impression it was David Walton's passion for aircraft that allowed the aviation groups to coexist with the day to day business. The new owners probably don't share that passion. Let's hope something was written into the sale agreement that the aircraft would be allowed to stay in some capacity, or that the new owner are generous enough to allow them to continue. Letting people in for the open days could be a problem though for security even if the aircraft do stay.

I haven't seen any seen any announcements from the LPG, ZD241 groups etc yet.

What a damn shame if its all over.

GertrudetheMerciless
Posts: 911
Joined: Mon 08 Sep 2008, 7:25 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by GertrudetheMerciless »

sdad wrote:They are very clear that the Museum is currently closed with no info on re-opening. If the new owners already have a base there, perhaps they will understand (even enjoy) what goes on with the fast taxi days.


Sadly, considering most of the recent expansion came with the facility their group already owns, I think this may be optimistic.

ZD241_VC10
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat 16 Jul 2016, 9:58 pm
Location: Bruntingthorpe
Contact:

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by ZD241_VC10 »

Xm657 wrote:I haven't seen any seen any announcements from the LPG, ZD241 groups etc yet.


The ZD241 team will release something once we’ve had formal confirmation of what the future holds. Planning for 2020 has considered this outcome as being possible; as you all know there had been no confirmation of Open Days going ahead this year. For a team such as ZD241, this is vital as funds need to be allocated for fuel, insurance, consumables etc.

User avatar
TEXANTOMCAT
Posts: 357
Joined: Sat 09 Aug 2014, 5:40 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by TEXANTOMCAT »

From my reading of the PR - whilst the car business may have been sold it doesnt seem to say that the site has been so I'd be waiting for official confirmation ref the aircraft. I'd be very surprised if Dave wanted to give up the aircraft side TBH, plus the airfield make money from the runway -they used to get paid by the CAA as an emergency diversion airfield (ie for a hijacking etc) and IIRC even by NASA as an alternative site for the space shuttle it being nearly 2 miles long it is one of the longest in the UK. Add to that the money from TV useage, car firm trials etc I would be very surprised if the runway is forfeit.

TT

User avatar
tache3
UKAR Supporter
Posts: 396
Joined: Sat 06 Sep 2008, 7:00 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by tache3 »

TEXANTOMCAT wrote:...whilst the car business may have been sold it doesnt seem to say that the site has been...


The piece reads "As part of the deal, Cox Automotive UK has acquired CWL’s vehicle services business which operates from three locations in Bruntingthorpe (Leicestershire), Wyton (Cambridgeshire) and Long Bennington (Lincolnshire). The deal also includes CWL’s proving ground and events businesses."

User avatar
XL391
Posts: 119
Joined: Thu 04 Sep 2008, 1:21 pm
Location: The Red Side of Liverpool

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by XL391 »

A huge shame if this is the end, as indeed it looks like. Bruntingthorpe, the aircraft and their fantastic hardworking teams and indeed David Walton have given me some fantastic aviation memories down the years.

User avatar
TEXANTOMCAT
Posts: 357
Joined: Sat 09 Aug 2014, 5:40 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by TEXANTOMCAT »

tache3 wrote:
TEXANTOMCAT wrote:...whilst the car business may have been sold it doesnt seem to say that the site has been...


The piece reads "As part of the deal, Cox Automotive UK has acquired CWL’s vehicle services business which operates from three locations in Bruntingthorpe (Leicestershire), Wyton (Cambridgeshire) and Long Bennington (Lincolnshire). The deal also includes CWL’s proving ground and events businesses."


Thank you- I guess we’ll see if that includes the land itself

TT

AndrewW
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun 26 Oct 2008, 11:08 pm

Re: Bruntingthorpe Closure?

Post by AndrewW »

Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

A Monument can be (among other things) - "A site comprising any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other moveable structure (or contains the remains of one)"

"Damage to a monument is a criminal offence and any works taking place within one require scheduled monument consent from the Secretary of State. The Act also provides for taking monuments into the care of the Secretary of State – the concept of 'guardianship' where a monument remains in private ownership but the monument is cared for and (usually) opened to the public by the relevant national heritage body."

https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/h ... monuments/

"The protected site of a monument may also include any land adjoining it essential for its support and preservation"

Post Reply