The Scout Aviation Centre at Biggin Hill Airport will close next month after the airfield’s management ended the lease to make room for a ‘small gain’ in extra parking spaces.

The centre is currently visited by hundreds of Scouts each year and they have been based at the airfield in various forms for 60 years in total.

They have been given until September 30 to leave the premises which they moved into in 2003 following a fundraising campaign which saw them raise £30,000.

The lease was expected to last until 2018 however a spokesman for Biggin Hill Airport confirmed that they had the right to end the lease at any time, as long as they provide no less than three months’ notice.

A spokesman for the Scouts said: “Right now, we are all hoping for a solution that will prevent our historic Comet flight simulator from being scrapped.

“The flight simulator allows young people, many from underprivileged backgrounds to experience a unique flight experience by piloting a rare 1950’s airliner.

“This also poses questions to the viability of the other smaller businesses located on the airfield.”

Alan Piper, who lives in Brixton but has been involved with the Air Scouts at Biggin Hill for 50 years, said: “We certainly won't be able to do all the things we do now.

“We would need to be on another airfield, and for the simulator we simply need another building to put it in, it would be nice if we could do both.

“They’re going to extend their car park and get four extra spaces.”

News Shopper: Scouts pushed out of Biggin Hill Airport

The current Scout Aviation Centre base.

The group were offered an alternative location on-site in January this year, but plans fell through earlier this month, leaving them limited time to find another location.

A spokesman for Biggin Hill said: “Whilst this arrangement continued for many years and perhaps worked adequately when Biggin Hill was primarily a light aircraft base, it does not fit with the modern world of health and safety and the necessity of heightened airport security requirements that go hand in hand with a modern business and general aviation Aerodrome.

“Whilst we are always sensitive to the need to inspire youngsters, our primary role is to provide connectivity to London, attract inward investment and create high value jobs and apprenticeships.

"The veteran PortaKabin is at the end of its useful life and no longer suitable for letting."

He added that they run their own community engagement program and are happy to arrange airfield visits.