ONGOING tension over an airfield is likely to come to a head later this year as a report on issues such as noise is being drafted for councillors.

A campaign by residents in Wanborough, Covingham, Nythe and Liden in objection to Redlands Airfield has gathered pace in recent weeks with 7,000 leaflets being put through homes in the area.

But opposition to planning permission on the site for skydiving and Microlighting has been simmering for nearly a decade as those nearby claim to be adversely affected by both low frequency and loud noise.

One of them, Margaret Greenwood, a retired former teacher of Wanborough, said: “It’s destroying lives. I know personally of people who have been badly affected.

“You just cannot get peace.”

Another, Kay Lacey, 53, a company director also of Wanborough, said: “It has made my life a living hell. It is difficult to sell houses here, you cannot work at home when there is flying going on and it is for hours at a time.

“It’s not just the infra-sound and ultrasound which causes low frequency vibrations exactly like wind turbines.”

The council’s head of planning, Richard Bell, has been inundated with emails but opinions are equally divided.

A council spokesman confirmed the planning committee would discuss the issue when they meet in July but said complaints fell under the remit of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

He said: “There are plans to send a report to the planning committee in July which will look into the complaints.

“The planning department has received around 32 emails regarding Redlands Airfield and opposition and support are evenly split.

“The CAA deal with complaints across the country.”

The owner of Redlands Airfield, Sarah Smith, responded to the claims by some local residents.

She said: “We are aware that a number of residents have objected to planning permission being granted to Redlands and they are currently delivering 7,000 leaflets to local homes.

“We operate within the planning conditions placed on us and also within the rules of the Air Navigation Order.

“We do encourage the public to visit the airfield as its an asset to the community that can be enjoyed.

“With regards to the planning committee meeting in July we understand this is to report on monitoring which Swindon Council do on a regular basis and have done for many years as part of their policy.”

The Civil Aviation Authority unwas available to comment.