A MAXIMUM of 15 take-offs will be allowed from a controversial airstrip after district councillors granted temporary planning permission.

The microlight airstrip at Court Farm, Hadzor, near Droitwich, has been in operation since 1996.

Wychavon District Councillors yesterday agreed the landing site should have its temporary planning permission renewed for a further three years.

But microlights and other small aircraft will only be allowed to take off between 9am and 8pm Mondays to Saturdays and between 10am and 8pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

Other conditions stipulated the airstrip could not be used for training or repairs and a log of all aircraft movements must be kept.

The airstrip became the focus of an intense campaign when villagers claimed microlights were too noisy and infringed on their privacy.

The planning application was originally refused but overturned on appeal after noise level tests were carried out.

Hadzor Parish Council made no objection to yesterday's renewal application.

But it stipulated there should be no-fly zones over Himbleton, Sale Green, Huddington and Saleway.

"The reason why there aren't a lot of objections is that it's on a small scale," said Councillor Margaret Rowley.

"It's only because it's a low key operation that I'm able to move the temporary approval."

Councillors also agreed the log must be kept up-to-date so that it could come under scrutiny at a future date.

Planning officers said that in view of other local developments the airstrip should only be granted temporary approval.

Last month Wychavon District Council agreed to a residential development at Hadzor Hall.

"The development is relatively close to the west of the airstrip and its considered further temporary permission would be appropriate with the conditions imposed by the inspector at appeal," said the planning officers' report to the council. ALISON FRASER