A man living next to a Nottinghamshire air base fears more 'urinating and defecating litter louts' will descend on his home to watch the Red Arrows train overhead. Peter Moyes, 61, who lives at one of the two properties on Longhedge Lane leading up to RAF Syerston, has sounded the alarm on what he expects the recently announced period of Red Arrows training over the airfield will mean for him and his neighbour.
From Monday, January 9, until Monday, April 17, 2023, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has given the display team permission to practice 'low flying' flights over RAF Syerston, Flintham. The RAF has said this temporary airspace arrangement would test the site and assess the impact on local aviation and ground stakeholders, with the base seen as a possible permanent solution for the famous group following the closure of their previous operating base at RAF Scampton.
But Mr Moyes, who claims to have suffered in the past as a result of unacceptable behaviour by aviation enthusiasts coming to watch displays, said he was worried the training operation would worsen the problem. "Because of where the base is and where we live, few other people actually ever see it or know about it," he said.
Read more: Syerston residents divided over Red Arrows 'low-flying' training over village
"Most of the other villagers are pretty ambivalent, because they don't know what goes on there. So until they experience it in the way we have, they probably have very little idea of what the impact is going to be.
"When people want to watch the Red's display or any alternative aircraft come along, they fill up the lane. I call them urinating, defecating litter louts, because that is exactly what they are.
"I've got photographs which I have shared with the RAF, because I raised that they had a responsibility to stop that happening - but their response is that because it is outside of the boundary of the airfield it is not their responsibility. Because they publish the flying times people will see it online and will come and camp for the day.
"It will be everyday now, what we have experienced so far is a once a year display. I'm not expecting it to be as bad as when there's a full display but I'm expecting it to be something similar but everyday.
"The lane is used by dog walkers and they're more considerate because they clear up their mess. We have people who park up and stay all day, clearly there's no toilets so they are going to do it somewhere, and it is just not acceptable.
It has been suggested the Red Arrows' presence will have minimal disruption in the area, but there is expected to be an increase in noise when the team is training. However, it is thought to be unlikely that the Red Arrows would use every training slot in the allocated 90 day period, and it is believed they will maximise their training in the first six to eight weeks.
Mr Moyes also had concerns about the suitability and security of the base, and expressed his frustration at a lack of prior consultation. "In comparison to where they were at RAF Waddington and RAF Scampton, those bases are very well secured because they are operational flying bases," he added.
They have MOD police patrolling and have security fences. But if you take a drive down Longhedge Lane you will see that there is no security whatsoever around RAF Syerston.
"I know what provisions they can put in place [to limit the impact on neighbours] and I've asked them to put in place no stopping on the crossroad and restricted access on Longhedge Lane. Because there's only two of us who are badly affected we just get ignored.
"They've said the RAF's display team will have a communications team that will engage with the local public. But they put a post on their Facebook for the first time the other day [December 27], there's been no engagement whatsoever."
The Ministry of Defence said the period would allow for the collection of feedback which would then be sent to the CAA. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, said: "The CAA have granted a temporary Airspace change over RAF Syerston from January 9 till April 17, 2023.
"This will be for the purpose of enabling the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team to practice low-flying training, owing to the closure of their previous operating base at RAF Scampton. The Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) outlines the requirements for this activity.
"The purpose of this period is to inform all stakeholders, including the general public, of the CAA’s decision. This also provides an opportunity for feedback from stakeholders which will then be collated and analysed by RAF Waddington then sent on to the CAA to help determine the effects on the local areas."
Speaking earlier this week, Chairman of the local parish council, Geoffrey Hibbert, said he is not pleased the Red Arrows will be training at Syerston and says despite himself and others making objections during the consultation period only slight changes have been agreed. He believes that it would make more sense for the Red Arrows to train at Doncaster Airport, which has recently closed.
He said: "I think that the RAF choosing Syerston and ignoring its affect on general aviation and aviation generally is a mistake. I think that the impact on some residents in this village has the potential to be quite adverse.
"As the people interested in the Red Arrows come and camp out on Longhedge Lane, they have left litter and they have been careless about the needs of the residents of Longhedge lane, especially those with carer needs with 24 hour access requirements"
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