|
Post by john1958 on Sept 3, 2012 18:22:00 GMT 1
Looks like it could well end up worse than LHR....and thats bad enough! Although at least there are suitable spots around the airfield there to make a visit viable.
Habu you are correct, if we look at the police at STN over the Olympic opening, they were first rate. They have a spotters scheme running there, and know that they cannot be everywhere at once, so use the spotters who will be! Several other airports up and down the country have taken this viewpoint, including LHR!
I think the best possible way forward would be one group which would be an amalgamation of both FOLA and NWAN and make it "one voice". We are not after facilities like Japan, just somewhere that we would be safe parking at, if it had a decent viewpoint for the photographers amongst us that would be great. It would also need to cater for the non-spotting airport visitor, if there were cafe facilities then the litter problem would be intensified. But if it were a money maker for the airport, and helped to pay for the facility then we would all have a part to play ensuring that FOD is kept to a minimum.
Need to get a ball rolling ASAP though before it is too late!
John
|
|
|
Post by davel on Sept 4, 2012 8:04:49 GMT 1
Since the Canadians have been involved, they have always said they would want the local people to be involved with"their" airport. The facilities that they have at Vancouver and other places for spectators show that they are open to providing such facilities. However the crunch comes when money is involved, as at the moment they are reluctant to spend any money on the terminal, never mind for spectators. The obvious position for a spectators area is around the new control tower but that would mean a method of issueing passes to genuine spotters for the Baileys Lane barrier. Although this barrier eliminates some of the undesirables dumping cars etc., the area is still accessable by foot to the general public, so an area set aside for spotters would have to be created then it will be obvious who drops any litter problem that occurs. All this means money being spent and that will be the stumbling block.
|
|
|
Post by maverick on Sept 4, 2012 13:24:16 GMT 1
Since the Canadians have been involved, they have always said they would want the local people to be involved with"their" airport. The facilities that they have at Vancouver and other places for spectators show that they are open to providing such facilities. However the crunch comes when money is involved, as at the moment they are reluctant to spend any money on the terminal, never mind for spectators. The trouble is that the facilities in Vancouver are at a 'not for profit' airport where it is run for the good of the community and civic pride whereas you can't transfer that ethos to our money pinching, profit before anything example.
|
|
|
Post by baldyman26 on Sept 4, 2012 13:59:36 GMT 1
It says on page 4 that all pathways will be respected. On the submitted plans I think the new path way will run around the perimeter of the fencing, leading out somewhere between baileys lane and Dungeon lane.
|
|
Pirate
New Member
Avast Ye!
Posts: 2
|
Post by Pirate on Sept 7, 2012 19:59:01 GMT 1
Hello,
First post (new member). I'm going down Dungeon Lane on 8th Sept to hopefully get some Southport Airshow images, but looking at what's going on (I had no idea), where will we be able to get close enough for an unobstructed viewpoint? Actually, I'm going over there right now to see how it actually is. I'll get back to you shortly.
|
|
|
Post by john1958 on Sept 7, 2012 20:07:27 GMT 1
Pirate, looks like its been fine today, access to the mound is still there!
Save your fuel!! :-)
John
|
|
Pirate
New Member
Avast Ye!
Posts: 2
|
Post by Pirate on Sept 7, 2012 20:56:02 GMT 1
Hello, First post (new member). I'm going down Dungeon Lane on 8th Sept to hopefully get some Southport Airshow images, but looking at what's going on (I had no idea), where will we be able to get close enough for an unobstructed viewpoint? Actually, I'm going over there right now to see how it actually is. I'll get back to you shortly. OK, I've just been over Dungeon Lane and this may read all over the place, but I hope you can pick the bones out of it: Fencing: Wooden gapped about 3ft high (same height as old fence) from emergency exit just past the General Aviation entrance/exit all the way down to the mound on the airport side. It's currently incomplete at the top and bottom where several panels have yet to be installed. Access to the old fence/hedge line is available right next to the high mesh fence at the emergency exit and the high fence starting opposite the mound. Unobstructed access is very limited in-between, but there is one place half way down the fence line that can be accessed if you scale the new wooden fence or walk from the South of the new fence line opposite the mound where the gap between the old and new ranges from about 10ft narrowing to 1ft as you go up towards the emergency exit gate. From the mound, where the new high unfinished metal/mesh fence is being erected, the view will become obstructed once the mesh has been installed to view over the runway. You can still see aircraft approaching from Runcorn to 27. Parking: As before at the top of Dungeon Lane and by the mound, but where sometimes you could park near to the emergency exit, the new fence has moved out and encroached further towards Dungeon Lane and the access has widened. It's all change but still accessible. However, in time it'll become impossible unless a dedicated viewing area is made available (in addition to parking). Viewing: From my recce, at the unfinished fence line next to the emergency exit, unobstructed views across taxiway A1 prior to joining runway 27 and the same again further down the fence line but your viewpoint will be nearer the intersection of taxiway A1 and runway 27. The Mound: Currently partially obstructed with the high fencing frames, but will become totally obstructed once the fencing has been erected. Conclusion: Parking is at a premium, unobstructed view points are very limited (not helped by overgrown hedge line alongside the old original fence). I hope you can unravel my ramblings and hope it may give a clearer (as mud) picture of the current layout of Dungeon Lane and the view points in relation to the fencing programme. Phew!
|
|
|
Post by Fox Echo on Sept 8, 2012 23:58:58 GMT 1
Unobstructed access is very limited in-between, but there is one place half way down the fence line that can be accessed if you scale the new wooden fence Are you seriously suggesting that spotters should scale the new wooden fence? Such behaviour would hardly be welcomed by the airport & would I believe make any prospect of an alternative viewing area far less likely.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2012 16:55:54 GMT 1
Latest news regarding the new fencing round the approach light's and along the lane. I have been informed that the final plans have be issued today regarding the complete fencing of the airfield. I have no idea as to what extent they are intending to extend but I was told , maybe in jest "Spotters don't hold your breath". Watching the antics of some visitors this afternoon in Dungeon Lane I can understand the concern,people actually climbed over the wooden fence(adult's and kids) and stood in between the fence and the hedge directly under the flight line. If I'd had my Tele lens fitted to my camera I would have taken a snap and posted it on the forum
|
|
|
Post by Biggles on Sept 15, 2012 20:41:21 GMT 1
We could start a photo competition for upload the most "idiotic spotter antics"
|
|
|
Post by baldyman26 on Sept 16, 2012 0:20:23 GMT 1
Where was security whilst all this was going on??
|
|
|
Post by viscount on Sept 16, 2012 0:53:22 GMT 1
Probably, and quite correctly, on their side of the fence. At the point across the runway end, there are three parallel fences, two with a hedge between them for most of the length, the outside of the fences being the latest 'close boarded' one shown on the photos on earlier posts of this thread.
The need for a low, frangible (I believe I have the word right - easily breakable) fence across the threshold should an aircraft undershoot, is one of the problems of having a public road there which cannot be securely high fenced as a safety issue. This problem will be solved once the public is moved back a field length from the runway's end - as shown on the plan several pages back in this thread.
The vast majority of public do stay outside of all the fence lines, trouble is a low fence is not seen as a barrier if parents want their kids to have a good view - I am not condoning their action though. It is quite a long time since I personally have seen anyone climb over the inner fences - and certainly my mobile phone would be in use the moment I ever did again.
|
|
mb
Full Member
Posts: 201
|
Post by mb on Oct 16, 2012 19:57:17 GMT 1
Wouldn't worry too much about the wooden fence.It will have gone by bommie night( 5 Nov).
|
|
|
Post by viscount on Oct 16, 2012 21:19:13 GMT 1
I'd much rather someone burnt the rubbish on the 27 mound on the 5th rather than vandalise the fence.
Actually the wooden fence does no harm, it does not get in the way (of photographs) and looks quite smart. The metal chain link and barbed wire fence is another matter altogether.
|
|
|
Post by LPL on Feb 14, 2013 13:54:11 GMT 1
|
|