PEOPLE who live near Branscombe Airfield are dismayed by EDDC s decision to approve the planning application. June Robinson, a local resident, appealed for the committee to refuse to grant the application at the site inspection meeting last week. She said

PEOPLE who live near Branscombe Airfield are dismayed by EDDC's decision to approve the planning application.

June Robinson, a local resident, appealed for the committee to refuse to grant the application at the site inspection meeting last week.

She said Mr Hayman's plane is "much more intrusive and buzzes around our ears.

"It has been likened to having a bluebottle flying around your house and you just want to swot it."

Although district councillors visited the site and listened to a plane take off and land, Councillor Green said this was not a true representation as the plane used was not Mr Hayman's.

Mr Green said that according to the noise survey which has been conducted, Mr Hayman's plane is 150 per cent louder than the plane used at the site visit.

And Lynne Hall, 46, of Crosswinds Farm Branscombe agreed with Mr Green.

She said: "The activity we have had to endure is not what the councillors have been shown."

Mrs Hall, who lives at the end of the airstrip and objected in writing to the application, said her horses are spooked easily by the planes and she feels Mr Hayman has no "respect" for her or other residents.

She said the use of the airstrip has grown considerably in the last couple of years and she is concerned for the safety of residents after two crashes and a number of "near misses".

She added: "The people who objected felt strongly enough because it directly affected them."

Mrs Hall said the residents would continue to monitor the amount of planes taking off and landing.

Mr Hayman said: "The council set the dates for the assessment on Friday and I was on business overseas so I could not fly my plane.

"My aircraft is powerful but it has a new engine and sound proofing. We have paid for noise assessments, which cost a great deal of money, and we are amazed they show how little noise the aircraft makes."

He said the majority of Branscombe residents supported him and only a "small minority" of people who live nearby have objected.

He added: "I moved into this village with my young family and have been appalled by the way we have been treated by the neighbours.