An influential local councillor has called on his own local authority to lift the veil of secrecy over the future of North Weald Airfield.

Tory councillor Ian Abbey, who is standing down at next month's local elections, told This Is Essex: "Rumour is rife in the village and the people have a right to know what is happening."

His demand comes as both villagers and tenants are becoming increasingly uneasy about the contents of a report on the airfield, prepared for Epping Forest District Council by leading consultants Drivers Jonas.

Last month we revealed that the eagerly-awaited dossier would not be published until June, six months after the original target.

Now Cllr Abbey, who lives in North Weald, says: "The quicker the people know what's in it the better.

"I'm a member of the working party on the airfield's future and I'm aware what the report contains.

"But I'm bound by confidentiality and am unable to reveal its contents. All I can say is that it contains wide-ranging proposals which the villagers should be aware of.

"There is a case for an interim report to be published immediately and I intend to raise this in the time I have left on the council."

Cllr Abbey would not be pressed on the secrets the dossier contains nor would he comment on rumours in the district that housing was suggested for the 384-acre site, owned by the council since 1980.

He also feels that worries over the possible use of the site as a waste disposal site are a distraction at this stage and backs the continued use of the former Battle of Britain HQ as an airfield.

Cllr Abbey, who will continue as a county councillor for the district, is also worried about the effects of the delay on airfield tenants, some of whom have long leases and complain that their business have been put on hold.

He said: "I'm concerned about them and will champion their cause to the end."

One of the tenants, Intrepid Aviation boss Brendan Walsh, said: "We feel badly let down by the council.

"We were promised a meeting with the chief executive but that's been called off. Originally we were told we'd know something by last December.

"We just need to know what is going to happen."

Nick English, director of North Weald Flying Services, said: "It's difficult to plan when your landlords won't tell you what's going on.

"They say the report's due in June but what's to stop it being further delayed? Some interim guidance on what's planned would be very helpful."

Village Presevation Society chairman David Lodge is worried that the airfield has been earmarked for some housing.

He said: "We would be very much against anything that interfered with the Green Belt: it's something we must conserve for future generations."

Cllr Colin Huckle, chairman of the working party on the airfield, has conceded that the council is considering a wide range of proposals and that a report would be published as soon as investigations were completed.

The council blames delays on difficulties arranging a meeting with the Highways Agency over the feasibility of some of the options being considered.

A spokesman said that the meeting had now taken place and the results would be discussed by the working group which would, in turn, report back to the policy and co-ordinating committee at the earliest opportunity, which was June.

He added: "The future of the airfield is of the utmost importance. It is, therefore, vital that we move forward one step at a time."

The consultants' report follows a dossier on airfield safety presented to councillors last spring.

At a meeting on March 17, 1998, officers were instructed to commission a "strategic overview". The consultancy has cost £63,000 and the council is seeking a further £120,000 in development funding to finance its implementation.

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