Suffolk Coastal hopes to be asking for views on a revised set of proposals from Bentwaters Parks Ltd for a new set of public access routes in and around the former military airfield in Rendlesham.

A series of delays since the first consultation in July 2006 has prevented the Council from finding out what people think about the scheme which connects existing truncated routes, upgrades some existing ones and make other changes in Rendlesham, Wantisden and Chillesford, linking to routes to Rendlesham and Tunstall Forests.

“It has been very frustrating that we have not been able to make further progress on these proposals but there have been a number of delays outside of our control. However, we expect to find out this month some further details about what the company is proposing,” said Cllr Rhona Sturrrock, Chairman of the Rights of Way Committee.

“Bentwaters Parks Ltd modified its proposals to take account of the responses to the 2006 consultation and these now form part of a broader environmental management plan which would see some additional facilities such as informal car parking areas.

“We have not yet seen the final details, which may need planning permission.  However, I am hopeful that over the next couple of months we will be able to consult widely and urgently on the proposals for footpaths and bridleways,” added Cllr Sturrock.

Local residents, relevant community organisations, representatives of access user groups and others will be invited to take part in the consultation when it is launched, and full details will be released when available.

The airfield at Bentwaters was created during World War II when various public roads and rights of way were stopped up under emergency defence legislation. In 1959 the airfield became a United States Air Force base and four further sections of footpath were stopped up so the runway could be extended to accommodate modern larger aircraft.

The base was closed in 1993 and was sold by the Ministry of Defence, and split into two parts – the technical base which contained the runway and its related buildings, and the domestic base, which was the airfield’s housing. The technical base is now largely owned by Bentwaters Parks Ltd and under an outstanding legal agreement it has to address the issue of public access in the area.