AERODROME DEADLOCK

Chronicle (Levin), 24 July 1946, Page 4

AERODROME DEADLOCK

Fine Chance iay Be Lost 1 local bodies must act That nothing further had eveiituaied towards the securihg of i some favourable recognition of the ' claims of Levin ior an aerbdrome was the advice given by the Mayor (Mr. H. B. Burdekin), replying to a question at Monday's meeting of the Levin Borough Council. It is to be very much deplored that apparently, for reasons not stated, the opportunity which seemed'so bright a few months ago for Levin and district to take its place with other towns" which are to have the advantages of air travel in the near future, is now in very great -danger of being iosh Sites in close proximity to a townare very difficult to obtain, and if the chance of securihg the flying field used throughout the war by the R.N.Z.A.F. is not taken advantage of, then it may well be that the opportunity of having ah aerodrome handy to Levin, as the centre of the district, will be lost for all time. Certain it is that no more advantageous site could be obtained, added to which is the fact that the ground is -ready for use as a flying field and there would be none of the heavy preparational expenditure involved in turning farm land into an aerodrome. In the course of the negotiations it would appear that although the Levin Borough Council expressed its readiness to make a subsidy available for the purpose of obtaining the flying field, the Horowhenua County Council could not] see its way clear to do likewise. As the co-operation of both local bod- , ies is necessary before an aviation ( authority can be constituted, those residents of the town and district who looked forward to air travel ' being possible in Levin at no distant date, and many others who ( are anxious to have facilities for , flying training, are hoping the ] county council will co-operate . before it is too late. Within a very short time now the Public Works , Department will be proceeding with the restoration of fences and drains on the aerodrome, and unless the local bodies act before then it will revert to farm land. It would be a great pity if this happened.