DIGNITARIES visiting Harwich for its windfarm business could fly in via Great Oakley airfield if new plans are approved.

Tim Spurge, owner of the village airfield, has applied for a change in conditions to allow helicopters at the site.

He hopes the move could help the regeneration of Harwich by giving businesses a place to land.

Mr Spurge has also applied for permission to have flying training, which he says brings six jobs to the site.

But Tom Howard, Tendring Councillor for the village, has hit out at the airfield for having a flying school based at the site for a year without planning permission.

He also hit out at the idea of helicopters at the airfield over concerns of noise.

Mr Howard said if the application is going to be approved conditions on what helicopters should be imposed to prevent loud militray aircraft from using the site.

Tendring Council has final say on the plans.