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‘We do wonder if they are actually listening’: Tollerton Airfield protesters campaign outside developer’s offices

By Callum Wright

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Protesters campaigning against the closure of Tollerton Airfield have delivered a petition to the developer of the site in a latest effort to force a u-turn on plans to evict the operator before full planning permission is granted.

The Vistry Group, which owns the Airfield, issued a three months notice to operators Truman Aviation on Tuesday March 4 to vacate the site before its planned permanent closure on June 6 2025.

This is despite no planning permission yet being granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council for Vistry to begin the redevelopment, which will see the airfield, which is home to Nottingham City Airport and numerous other businesses, demolished to make way for a proposed 1,600 houses and school.

‘Save Nottingham Airfield’, a campaign group set up to dispute the site’s closure and protect the jobs connected to it, have since launched a petition to request Vistry to allow aviation activities to continue until the planning permission has been fully granted and decided upon by the appropriate authorities.

On Friday April 4, the group protested outside Vistry’s north east midlands headquarters in Enderby, Leicestershire, and delivered the petition, which has now reached nearly 4,000 signatures, and asks the company to rethink their decision.

Brennig Jones, one of the campaigners and former member of the Royal Air Force, said he is committed to keep aviation going locally.

“I’m absolutely horrified that Vistry, who have no clue how aviation works, have told businesses that they have to cease trading,” he said.

“I just hope that they take the signatures, look at them and realise they come from all over the world, and rethink their position on closing the airfield.”

The requests issued to Vistry via the petition include for a delay to the eviction of pilots, flying schools and aviation engineering until a final decision is made on the redevelopment plans, and for engagement with stakeholders to explore mutually beneficial solutions during the transitional period.

Kathryn Bull, a Tollerton local and member of the campaign group, said she had decided to fight in order to help keep the airfield.

“It’s quite a challenge because we do wonder whether Vistry are actually listening, but at least we’ve brought the petition here today,” she said.

“We just want to show them the strength of feeling, not just from Nottinghamshire but all around the UK.”

Tollerton Airfield opened in 1929 and was notably used during the Second World War, when it was known as RAF Tollerton and housed overhauls, repairs and modifications to RAF bombers. It was also a relief landing ground for the Polish Air Force, before acting as a commercial airport from 1946-1948.

The airfield is also home to a landing and refueling zone for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

A spokesperson for Vistry Group said: “The site at Tollerton is part of the land allocated for development by Rushcliffe Borough Council in 2014. Vistry has continued to facilitate the operation of Tollerton Airfield since it purchased the site in June 2022 and is working closely with Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance to maintain a safe landing site to ensure that the service can continue during the initial phase of the development. For Vistry to bring forward the delivery of this allocated site it is now necessary to close the Airfield.

“Vistry continues to work closely with Rushcliffe Borough Council and has consulted widely with local community groups throughout the planning process. We are committed to delivering much-needed new high-quality homes for the local area, as well as new schools, community facilities, sports facilities and green spaces for local residents. We estimate that some 500 direct and indirect jobs will be created during the construction stage of Vistry’s development.”