WYCOMBE Air Park may become the first aerodrome in the country to become independently regulated after the Government agreed to step in to resolve a long running dispute over noise pollution.

Transport Minister Theresa Villiers has agreed to take the unprecedented first steps to ‘specify’ the air park in Booker, Great Marlow, giving The Civil Aviation Authority additional powers to control airfield activity.

Wycombe Air Park Action Group, backed by Wycombe District Council, made the request in 2009.

'Specification', through the Civil Aviation Act, has never happened before.

But Mrs Villiers, writing to WAPAG, concluded Government intervention “may be necessary”.

In her letter to WAPAG, Mrs Villiers, said although these were matters which should be dealt with at a local level, “It is also clear to me that local remedies have not yet been found.”

She wrote: “In my view, therefore, Government intervention may be necessary to bring about a resolution of the issues.

“I am persuaded by the length and determination of WAPAG’s campaign, by the support of WDC for their specification request, and by the relatively high number of aircraft movements and, especially, training flights, at the air park which suggests that noise from the activities of the air park would be likely to cause significant concern to a representative number of local residents.

“On the basis of these considerations, and in light of Government policy, I am minded to use the power available to me under section 5 to make an order.”

But she added, officials will have to consider its feasibility and it could be at least a year before measures are taken.

The Department for Transport told the Free Press it would not be drawn on whether current management of the air park had been adequate but said, in a statement, it hopes a resolution without Government intervention can still be found.

The statement read: “We will now begin working with the Civil Aviation Authority to determine next steps.

“This process is likely to take several months and we would encourage all parties to use this time to continue working towards a local resolution."

Richard Wetenhall, spokesman for WAPAG which represents 500 households including from Lane End, Booker and Frieth, said the organisation had been 'vindicated'.

“For those who are affected it is very significant because the noise is continuous,” he said.

“It makes your life a misery.”

“This is a huge step forward, this has never been done before.”

He said while the group is “delighted” it was still only “at the start line”.

He said: “We have never denied the right of the air park to exist.

“All we have ever asked is that they behave in a reasonable and neighbourly way, and respect that their interests have to be balanced with those of residents, as is required by Human Rights law.”

Tim Orchard, Manager of the air park, said it will be "interesting to watch the progress of both Central and Local Government in how they each deal with the first-ever application of the specification rule."

He said: "Whilst WDC mandates that Wycombe Air Park’s operator fosters and encourages general aviation flying, it has chosen to side with WAPAG in calling for specification.

"It could be a troublesome task for them sitting on both sides of the fence.

"The cost of any implementation remains an issue, as WAP has not broken any rules or regulations.

"What measures the CAA could call for and who will pay for any implementation may take a long while to ascertain.

"Meanwhile, WAP continues to abide by all regulations and to offer what it is mandated to do in the safest and most neighbourly way it knows how."