County Judge Sides with Local Residents in Class Action Against Local Airport
A County judge has sided with local residents in a precedent-setting ruling in regards to aircraft noise and safety…
Northern California - A small community made up of recently constructed housing and condos had launched a class action suit against the local small airport of Neverland Field. Built in 1927, Neverland Field consisted of a single runway and a small grouping of hangars surrounded by farmland. Since the airport opened for operation, it has been an important asset to local pilots, businesses and the greater aviation community at large.
In 2011, a development company bought the land surrounding the airport and construction began shortly afterwards. Within a few years, the immediate area was filled with newly constructed roads, housing, and condos.
A short time later, local residents began to complain about the noise from the aircraft flying in and out of Neverland Field. A class action suit was filed against the airport stating loss of quality of life, health issues associated with noise pollution and safety concerns of aircraft falling out of the sky at any given moment. The lawsuit also proclaims that aircraft “literally roar down the residential streets.”
Locals complained that the airport has severely affected their property values, thus causing a financial loss to the innocent residents that moved next to the decades-old airfield. In addition, the class action lawsuit also states that larger aircraft such as the 4-seat Cessna 172 have been operating at odd, late-night hours. Residents stated that the overpowered aircraft caused their houses to shake and animals to flee due to their formidable power plants However airport statistics indicated that there “were no significant changes” in runway operations, outside of normal seasonal variations.
After a few days of deliberation, the County judge ruled in favour of the local residents stating that they do in fact have a right to a peaceful environment, a safe area in which to raise their families, and that residents should in no way suffer financial loss due to the proximity of their newly constructed developments around the airport. The judge promised that swift and deliberate action would be taken to remedy the situation and to ensure a more tranquil life for those affected.
The next morning, local residents found a large "X” carved into streets surrounding the airport, and notices of land appropriation advised local residents to prepare for immediate relocation.
Once the temporary relocation of local residents to an undisclosed location was completed, bulldozers were brought in, 84 homes and 7 condo developments were systematically demolished, and the entire area around the airport was levelled.
The judge hopes that his precedent setting ruling will avoid future legal complications, and will most certainly ensure a quieter, better quality of life for the class action participants. "Nobody should suffer the indignities of living next to an airport that you chose to move next to…that is just not fair” the County judge said in a statement to local media.
When asked what will become of the unoccupied land around the airport, County officials decided that it is most probable that the airport's runway will be extended
“We are pleased with the decision,” " said local pilot William “Wild Bill” Kelso USAAF Ret
Berkshire Aviation Enterprise had the exact same problem which I commented on. I grew up 10 walking minutes away and worked there…
I’m surprised this was not dated April 1
I thought this was a great article, BUT I decided to try to confirm the story. I can’t find confirmation in any other source. Indeed, in a cursory search, the only “Neverland” airport I found is located in NY State.
Thanks for the laughs. I’ll never forget – when I was 12, we moved from the country to the city. The estate agent showed my parents a property and he probably had the arrival/departure times and active runways of the nearby airport mixed up. As we stood outside the house, a 747, wheels out, passed very low and slow overhead. Everything rattled and shake. Most beautiful sight I ever saw. My parents did not make an offer.
Nice Dream , Time to wake up
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