Sir, – I refer to the letter from R P Davies (D&S, April 20) in which he accuses Hambleton District Council of “bullying” the Yorkshire Air Ambulance into vacating Bagby (where there is an airfield for leisure flying enthusiasts) and relocating to RAF Topcliffe.

It seems that R P Davies is unaware or takes for granted that the YAA did not have planning permission to be based at Bagby and that HDC are enforcing planning controls as it has every right to. Who has said that any bullying has actually occurred? Further, the use of the airfield for commercial operations by a (privately owned?) utility company might be well outside the scope of use for an enthusiast's airfield, whatever savings this gives the shareholders?

R P Davies also suggests that the operational staff at RAF Topcliffe feel that the YAA interferes with their procedures and that senior staff are unaware of this situation. This seems to be a very assertive statement to make. Who has RP Davies learned this from and what will the senior staff say when they find this out by being made aware of it via the letter?

Perhaps R P Davies has inside information from RAF Topcliffe or vested interests in the commercialisation of Bagby Airfield and is simply trying to sway public opinion by causing trouble for those opposed to it. Of course the YAA and lots of other helicopters could always relocate to Harrogate.

Those at Bagby Airfield who have not followed set procedures and have failed to apply for, let alone secure, planning permission prior to making a change of use are the only ones who have scored an own goal.

PAUL LAZENBY Haxby, York