Businessman wants permanent airstrip at Herefordshire wedding venue

Gary Waring, who also heads up the Left Bank and De Koffie Pot in Hereford, wants to establish the permanent use of an informally used airstrip and convert an existing barn into a hangar and maintenance building at Lyde Court, near Hereford.

A design and access statement submitted to Herefordshire Council's planning department said it was anticipated that the airstrip could function as a commercial and tourism-related opportunity for Hereford as well as a unique selling point for newlyweds and functions.

Experienced pilot Mr Waring has for some years used a grass airstrip in a field at the venue on an informal and private basis, the statement said.

"The venue has previously offered newlyweds and guests a short, celebratory flight and the applicant's experience is that photographs with the aircraft are also extremely popular," the design and access statement said.

It also noted that the grass airstrip would provide the opportunity for visitors to Herefordshire to arrive by private aircraft and make use of onward transit to their destination.

If approved, the application said, there would be no night flying and no microlights, twin-engine aircraft, jets, or turbo-props would be permitted to land on the site.

The existing barn is stated to be large enough to hold three planes at any one time.

You can view and comment on the application by clicking here.