A NEW £30,000 aviation centre in Biggin Hill is set to help young flying fans "get their dreams off the ground".

South London Scouts are launching an appeal to raise the cash for a brand new base in the grounds of the terminal.

Their current property on the airfield, the Scott-Chard Centre, is a shack built in 1985 from second-hand wood.

It has no mains water, electricity or toilets and has suffered storm damage.

Now the group has been given planning permission and a 15-year lease to replace it with two linked Portakabins with mains facilities.

The base, the only one of its kind in southern England, is staffed by volunteer adult leaders from the Air Scout section and is used by scouts, guides, schoolchildren and other youth groups.

Its main uses are:

Briefing young people for their first flying experiences

A base for educational airport tours for more than 500 people a year to experience modern day aviation and learn about Battle of Britain history

Training for specialist scout aviation badges

A home for a rare Comet IV flight simulator which is being restored to working condition.

The new building will have water, heating, lighting, toilets and full disabled access, and could be used by far greater numbers of young people.

South London Air Scouts leader Ian Piper said: "We are delighted to have planning permission and can now really start raising the necessary funds this project needs to take off.

"The objective of scouting is to help young people get the most out of life.

"This centre at the airport will certainly help some young aviation buffs get their dreams off the ground."

Airport marketing manager Julie Black said: "The work the scouting community undertakes with young people locally is of great value to us all.

"With these new facilities, many more children can experience the joys of aviation and scouting and in far more comfortable surroundings."

The Scouts have already raised £6,000, and building work will start when they get close to their target.

Anyone wanting to help can send a donation, made payable to GLS County Scout Council, to Alan Littlechild, 70, Ellerton Road, London SW18 3NN.

November 22, 2001 10:47

Sarah Warden