A MEETING to discuss the future of an airfield business has been cancelled as its owners wish to amend their scheme.

Test Valley Borough Council's (TVBC) northern area planning committee on was due hold a meeting to discuss a bid to remove the airstrip at Bourne Park Airfield and build a home on the site on Thursday evening.

However, after the Advertiser went to print the meeting was removed from the authority's diary after talks between TVBC's planning team and the applicant.

A spokesperson for the council said that the applicant has decided to make changes to their scheme and a meeting to discuss the plan will be rescheduled at a later date.

The operators submitted the application in April last year, but it was due to be decided by councillors on the committee after it was deemed that the proposal was of “significant local interest or impact”.

The airfield has been in use since at least 1993 but it is now being sought that the grass airstrip will be removed, and all but one of the associated buildings will be removed to make way for a home, outbuildings and residential curtilage.

In a comment from Hurstbourne Tarrant Parish Council, which has backed the scheme, it said that the applicant, a Mr Martin, had stated his case to the authority and site employees are already working in Middle Wallop and at other airfields.

The remark added: “As the landowner, he felt he could either allow the business to continue, but there would probably need to be an increase in air traffic for it to remain viable.

“The business lease was due to end in 12 months’ time. The company was in a position to relocate to other premises where it already operated, and there would be no loss of jobs.”

The plan has drawn backing from those living nearby who have complained about the disruption caused by the airfield and business conducted there, and fear that flying could increase if the proposal is refused.

One objector said the noise was a “pestilential nuisance”, while another commenter added: “My wife and I are frequently annoyed by the noise of aircraft engine testing on the airfield site and as such it has a negative impact on the enjoyment of our home in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

Others objected to the scheme said it was due to a ‘helicopter service station’, but no application for this has been made, according to borough council documents.