Owners of Shipdham Airfield deny redevelopment claims

Speculation has mounted in recent weeks around the future of the Shipdham Airfield, after the flying club in the village announced it would close in January 2024.

Reports on social media and websites have claimed that airfield, near Dereham, will close in November this year.

The Proctor family has won the 2022 Norfolk Farm Business Competition. Pictured from left are Ken and Rebecca Proctor with their sons Rob and Ralph (Image: Archant)

But a spokesman for the Proctor family - which owns the land - has denied these claims.

The spokesman said: “The flying club is run by Mike Atherton (the current tenant) and his treasurer Barry Cator.

"We have had a fantastic relationship with Mike and Barry since the 1990s and feel very honoured to have known them for so long.

“The planned closure of the current tenancy has been amicable by both parties.

“The ‘rumours’ aired on social media about alternative uses for the airfield and the wishes of the late Mrs EM Paterson is completely unfounded and no other planned use for the tenanted area of the airfield is currently planned.

“Mike has assured us that nearly all the planes have been successfully relocated to other airfields ahead of their closure at the end of the year.”

Earlier this month, plans were announced for the control tower to be demolished and replaced with a replica.

Constructed in 1941 to 1942, the RAF Air Base in Shipdham was initially home to the US Air Force's 319th Bombardment Group during the Second World War.

READ MORE - Sadness over Falcon Crane plan to demolish Shipdham control tower

Roy Allgood and three other pilots - all members of the flying club - have formed a steering group, and said some owners are hoping to reach a compromise with the landowner for a much-reduced operation.