Walkers warned to keep off Dornoch Airfield
Walkers and dog walkers have been warned that it is illegal to use Dornoch airfield for their daily walks as a new limited company prepares to take it over.
Highland Council is in the final stages of negotiating a five-year lease of the unlicensed grass airfield on Common Good land to the newly formed company Gizzen Briggs.
The company’s representative, aviation consultant Captain Hugh Urquhart, has said they hope to “reinvigorate” the airfield with daily aircraft arrivals, with the main use expected to be by golfers and guests of the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle.
Between 50 and 100 dog walkers and recreational walkers are said to use the airfield, which is not fenced and lacks signs, and its surroundings on a daily basis.
Tensions have arisen recently over what is happening to the site after dog walkers were alerted to changes following the installation of new bollards.
A meeting was held by Dornoch Area Community Council in Dornoch Social Club on Tuesday evening, attended by around 100 members of the public and local businesspeople.
Officials in attendance were ward councillor Jim McGillivray, development manager Phil Tomalin and project officer David Swanson. Captain Urquhart was also present.
Cllr McGillivray said Highland Council was not in the business of running aerodromes and had “not addressed its (Dornoch airfield) needs along the way”.
David Swanson said the legal position was clear - there was no right of access over an airfield.
“We have looked closely and sought proper legal advice, and that is the position of both UK and Scottish law with regards to access,” he said.
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Mr Swanson added that the council was working with the proposed leaseholders to produce signage warning that access was prohibited and indicating a safe route around the airfield.
Captain Urquhart said: “Dornoch sticks out as one of the only places in the UK that has this unauthorised use. People should not be walking on the runway, but we recognise the signage is not correct and nobody has been told not to do it.
“The aerodrome is not open to the public, and signage is likely to be in place in the next four to five weeks. We are also going to put in marker posts with little arrows to show public access.
“We understand that the community does a lot of dog walking and exercise there, and we do not want that to stop but it is important that folk understand you do not walk on the runway.
“Any operator in charge of an aerodrome that knowingly allows people to cross it without any control is wide open to a lawsuit if anything happens.”
He continued: “We fully intend to reinvigorate Dornoch airfield to become the gateway for general aviation. Our key focus is to bring business to the town, its restaurant, shops and accommodation providers.
“We have agreed to put a percentage of gathered landing fees revenue back into the Common Good Fund. If the aerodrome grows financially, then the Common Good fund will benefit proportionally.”
Community councillor Chris Ferne said: “We have got one airfield; we have got any number of places where people can walk dogs. The airfield is a considerable community asset and could be developed to greatly enhance our tourism and the reputation of the town.”
