Salisbury City Council encourage 'legal action' to protect collapsed Old Sarum hangar

The authority's responded to the deterioration of the site

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 29th Jan 2024

Salisbury City Councillors have responded strongly to the collapse of a World War Two hangar at Old Sarum Airfield.

The Grade II* listed Hangar 3 collapsed there, during the windy conditions brought by Storm Isha just over a week ago (Sunday 22nd January).

Campaigners calling for the protection of the site have shown outrage at the state of the hangars, with the City Council agreeing with them.

In a statement, they've called the incident 'a disaster long predicted'.

They've also suggested that housing developments mooted for the site should not go ahead.

Here's their comment in full:

"The collapse of Hangar 3 at Old Sarum Airfield is a disaster long predicted by those who have been campaigning to save this Grade II* listed wartime survivor.

"Our heritage protection systems have failed abjectly in their duty to ensure its preservation despite years of pleading by aviation enthusiasts including the group SOS - Save Old Sarum.

"Legal action must be taken to salvage and restore it. And on no account must what remains of this historic airfield be swallowed up by housing development."

There's been similar uproar from Laverstock and Ford Parish Council.

Wiltshire Council and Historic England have carried out an assessment of the site and called for a complete rebuild, which has been passed on to the site's owners.

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