Backplot (in chronological order):

• Discovery
• Analysis
• Engagement
• Update

If I read the latter of Rachel’s postings correctly, it appears that whomever requested – or perhaps organised – the deal to film Ron Howard’s new Formula 1 movie on Blackbushe Airport:

• was not made aware that (Wikipedia notwithstanding) Blackbushe Airport is built on Common Land for which there are still Commoners with rights
• was not made aware that filming would impact public rights of way
• was not made aware that it’s in an area with special natural history protections requiring environmental impact assessments
• was not made aware that it’s home to / is near the homes of several endangered species including (protected) birdlife and (unprotected) glow-worms
• is in such a terrible rush (‘scuse pun) to get things done, such that building works would commence this monday (ie: Jan 9th) before even all the formalities could feasibly have been completed

The investigative journalist in me is just dying to follow the money and find out precisely who was set to profit from the deal – surely I cannot be incorrect to assume that some money has or is planned to change hands to “permit” filming? – but that’s a task for next week.

Were I the movie company I would be looking carefully at whomever made me promises that haven’t quite panned-out as expected. Apparently the commoners were not consulted at all; and how odd it seems that the first public whiff of the proposed works were the flyers posted on the Common’s exitpoints shortly before the Christmas break.

But Natural England (formerly English Nature) – the oversight body for this sort of thing – have now lodged an objection to the start of works for the movie due to lack of Environmental Impact Assessment, above, plus the endangered species angle – and the Commoners have lodged a second objection not least because (simply put) you have to defend commoners’ rights, else you lose them.

I would advise the Commoners (et al) to study the proposed works schedules and hang-around the affected areas on the relevant days, just in case any wheels have been put in motion which will not stop until informed otherwise by people who pay the money.

Take a camera or two, just in case. Before-and-after photographs are also useful – a weekend project, perhaps?

Read Don’t RUSH – proper planning proposal might have prevented a poor performance!