LAVERSTOCK residents turned out in force to voice their concerns about a potential development on Old Sarum Airfield.

Around 80 residents and people interested in the area attended the meeting, held at Laverstock and Ford Village Hall on Thursday evening.

The worried response came after developers released their master plan to build 315 homes in a conservation area.

The meeting was arranged by campaigners from the SOS - Save Old Sarum group.

A flyer advertising the meeting also mentioned more traffic and congestion on the A345 if the development were to go ahead.

Read more: ​New masterplan for Old Sarum Airfield redevelopment revealed

Wiltshire Councillor Andrew Oliver attended the meeting alongside representatives from Laverstock Parish Council.

The site was granted conservation status in 2007 due to it having almost a complete set of original technical buildings from a WW1 training airfield, the grass airstrip remaining intact and active, and the original perimeter remaining largely intact, according to Historic England.

Wiltshire councillor Ian McLennan, of the Laverstock Division, was not at the meeting but put forward a statement which was read out.

He mentioned Core Policy 25 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy which states that councillors and the community should be fully engaged in the enhancement of the Old Sarum Airfield Conservation Area.

This would require a management plan to figure out how the area could bring value through public benefit.

So, Cllr McLennan proposed three stages of a plan that could be delivered over the short, medium and long term.

His short-term plan would enable greater immediate public access to the airfield and make urgent repairs.

In the medium term things that enhance the area that can be completed in a "reasonable time", such as restoring Hangar 3, should be considered.

Then, in the long term, Cllr McLennan proposes a "total restoration of the original setting" with the hope of it being used to generate income as an educational attraction.

See more: ​Alderbury: 2-year-old rescued after trapping himself in a car

Ideally, each part of the plan would be individually costed and if the owners of the site are unable to meet an essential timescale which cannot be funded, then the 'compromise' of development comes into play, according to Cllr McLennan.

He said: "First we want Wiltshire Council, in conjunction with the Community (including every business) and councillors, to produce a Management Plan to ensure the long-term future of the whole of the Conservation Area, for public and historic benefit."

The group behind the plans say the new "strategic masterplan" will ensure the long-term viability of the airfield to protect the aviation heritage for the future. 

The team also said they have been engaging with Historic England "which has indicated that it would not object to the revised proposals".