A10 65 Field access

[slogen51]

Thread creep I suppose but this morning I notice that cars are being parked inside the forest entrance , a rule that is normally respected by the regulars. I know it doesn't do any real harm but the no entry sign is there and the forestry commission could make things awkward in the future

[sf-25 piloot]

How about the verge on the same side of the road? Can you see anything if you are on the other side of the fence?

Yes you can!
At least the two remaining SJ Eagles can been seen.

[sschofield]

See no reason that parking next to the fence for the farmer's field should be a problem, and then walk back up the main road towards the main gate? Makes sense to keep the cars off the main road and the grass. I remember the days in the 80's and 90's when you could drive along the verge next to the base fencing, well before the boards were put up to disrupt such activities! We even did it in a 52-seater coach in 1986, and bagged about 30 F-111s as a result!

[merlinhunter]

I was able to read off all 14 visitors from the road side verge this morning.

[ChrisCwmbran]

I has always said the authorities will have the last laugh. The idiots who park badly and leave there rubbish will lose the wonderful privilege watching aeroplanes.

Are the people who park badly also the same people who leave their rubbish? I don't really see any evidence of this.

Will the people who park badly and/or leave their rubbish be the ones who lose their access to watch aircraft? No. If anything it will be everyone who lose their access.

I was there last Wednesday. I only make it there three or four days a year. I did notice more cars than usual - but none of them were parked inside the forest gate - at least for a while two cars did stop in there but one was a car headed into the forest area and one was a car coming out of the forest area, clearly locals or workers not aviation enthusiasts.

The extra cars were parked on the opposite side of the road from the base, and extended on both sides of the forest entrance.

The only litter I saw (other than the sack loads I brought up from Wales to distribute around the area as an occasional visitor) was what appeared to be a dirty nappy. I didn't investigate it in detail - forensic evidence is not my forte - but I don't think there is any evidence that this related to aviation enthusiasts at all. From my knowledge of biology I would suggest that perhaps it was left by someone who had a thing called a baby. If you are unsure about what a baby is, I suggest looking on Google.

And for the record (as usual), F-15s are F-15s. Replacing the paint that says LN with paint saying SJ really doesn't make much difference - in fact, to me none at all. They certainly weren't a factor in my attendance.

[slogen51]

I don't know why you come on this site. Is it just to take the pee out of spotters?

[ChrisCwmbran]

I don't know why you come on this site. Is it just to take the pee out of spotters?

I'm ever so sorry snowflake.

I did point out that its my usual moan - and I have a perfect right to be an enthusiast without being a spotter.

I'm just sick of the overtones that anyone who isn't regular is the source of bad parking and of course litter.

[slogen51]

Fine but why do you have to vent your spleen on here can't you just go on twitter or Facebook

And there is no need to start calling me names

[ChrisCwmbran]

Names? Snowflake. Point made I think.

I responded to a comment made on here. Not on Facebook or Twitter.

[slogen51]

Thanks for your PM

I am sorry if I upset you , let's move on I can't be bothered with all this.

[rh226]

I see from a post on SMAS that the police have now taken an interest in usage of the "golf course" track.

Apparently, they told someone this morning that the field is out of bounds because it is private property, an SSSI and ground nesting birds have been noted in there. Also, parking down there will not be allowed.

[sschofield]

Tricky to enforce a parking ban where there are no signs (yet) suggesting it's a private area, although commonsense, airfields and local plod rarely go hand-in-hand. I suspect there will be a gate going up at the field entrance there before very long, so now it's going to be a very long walk from the forest entrace up the hill to the HAS/visitors complex. Not sure where the nearest place to park in the other direction is, but it must be well past the main gate. Near the gun club possibly?

[Typeflyer]

I see from a post on SMAS that the police have now taken an interest in usage of the "golf course" track.

Apparently, they told someone this morning that the field is out of bounds because it is private property, an SSSI and ground nesting birds have been noted in there. Also, parking down there will not be allowed.

No signs this morning and no one in the field when I was there (on the road side of the fence I should add). If they are going to enforce no parking they'll need a lot of yellow or red paint! Who's going to pay for that????

[AndyH69]

I spoke to the local plod whilst on a recce up and down the verge / fence line. Very nice they were too. They confirmed the bird issue and the estate's concern about tresspass on their land and access road. The police were concerned about my safety due to the high speed nature of the road. This was despite me being stood about a metre away from the carriageway edge. Thankfully, I managed to read off all the visitors. There's one spot, adjacent to a gazebo on the golf course where you can pretty much read them all off in one hit, one tail after another, without the aid of ladder.

[Mike]

This was despite me being stood about a metre away from the carriageway edge.

On one occasion when I was at Lakenheath when the F-111Fs were still there (I'd have to dig out my logs for the exact date) there was a TACEVAL going on. At least 12 KC-135s left Mildenhall in quick succession just after I arrived there, the noise and smoke from the old engines was something else!
The local spotters told me what was going on and we all headed over to Lakenheath in a very fast convoy and we all parked at the forest entrance to witness at least 54 F-111Fs departing, I think there were more, because we missed a few that departed before we all arrived. What a sight that was.
Things went very quiet and I headed off (I had the wife and baby with me) to have a nice morning in Thetford Forest Park, which happens to be directly on the approach.
Around 30 F-111s had returned when we decided to head back, on the way back we could see smoke rising vertically from about a mile away, someone had actually managed to steer off the road straight into where the cars were parked at the forest entrance and one had burst into flames.
It wasn't pretty and was much more than 1 metre away from the carriageway edge.

Does anyone else remember this?

[Thunder]

Two signs one at either end saying no parking for 1 mile would suffice. It’s not that hard to enforce measures if so desired. Give the police a reason and they’ll enforce it, work with them and show some common sense they may hold off.

[Nighthawke]

Just to ensure everyone understands the severity of the law in relation to this. Prosecution under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 can result in an unlimited fine, up to 6 months imprisonment or both.

[rh226]

Two signs one at either end saying no parking for 1 mile would suffice. It’s not that hard to enforce measures if so desired. Give the police a reason and they’ll enforce it, work with them and show some common sense they may hold off.

Perhaps I have got my wires crossed, but I thought it was a "clearway" anyway. So no parking on verges.

[busterg4]

That's correct Bob.

[plmc135]

Indeed it is a Clearway, the first sign is just passed the main entrance to RAF Lakenheath and indicates that it is designated as such for the following 4 miles. There should therefore be no stopping on the verges.