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Driveme.net

New life for old airfield

Exciting new plans have just been announced for the former RAF Seighford, North West of Stafford. Owners and one of the users of the site have been working together to bring life to a corner of the derelict airfield, replacing hangers, portable buildings and a section of the runway with a world-class driver experience centre.

The plans, submitted by Flintshire based driveme.net Ltd. show a multi-million pound investment in the airfield as a centre for excellence in driving. Driveme has been one of the airfield’s users since 2004 and now has exclusive use rights. The organisation offers professionally guided driver experiences to pre-booked customers and corporate organisations for a range of experience days.

Its current operations at Seighford are from a collection of portable buildings, in a corner of the airfield.

Driveme’s directors are keen to make a positive difference to the old airfield. Their plans include a low carbon, eco-friendly and state of the art hospitality hub centre, a replacement maintenance hanger building, multi-use vehicle tracks, extensive natural sound deadening acoustic bunds, enhanced nature conservation and wildlife habitats & extensive landscaping proposals and more accessible and user friendly rights of way.

Allan Davies, a director of Driveme.net Ltd. said; “We believe the old airfield can be brought to life again as a centre of excellence for driving skills in the UK. We have seen the demand for our driving experiences at Seighford grow from the occasional weekday to a regular Wednesday and Saturday and we would like to do more. We have done our best but we are restricted by the conditions of the site and the need to totally renovate.

We would love to be able to host the main launches by the car manufacturers in such an environmentally friendly hospitality centre as we are planning. Driveme was proud to host the sales team driver training sessions at Seighford for the launches of the Peugeot 308 and 4007, the Mercedes new C Class and Renault’s new Laguna in 2007.”

Speaking about the plans for the site, Allan Davies continued; “The central hub building will be able to be used by the local community as a conference and meeting facility, with schools and college involvement too. The location and site will demonstrate a world-class example of building design and low carbon use technology. Eco-award-winning architects White Design are working on the project with us.

The circuits and tracks have the potential to be used for cycling and running too and we plan new pedestrian footpath links. All will encourage public accessibility in the area and be integrated into a naturally managed landscape that encourages nature conservation interests.”

He also pointed out; “There are other benefits too. Redevelopment by Driveme of the site as the Stafford Activity Centre will not only secure some 35 existing jobs but lead to the creation of a further 85 new jobs, besides bringing construction and hopefully stimulating further sustainable jobs in the leisure and service sector markets, whilst also giving Stafford a world class destination to be proud of.”

Owners and users of the airfield are working together on the project and have been listening to the advice and support of locals living around the airfield. They held a consultation forum event at Seighford Village Hall and stayed to discuss plans at the Summer Fete last year. Many of the recommendations made by Stafford Borough Council and local residents have been incorporated into these plans as a result. Detailed appraisals and assessments have been undertaken regarding highways, landscape, ecology, trees, acoustics and drainage. This ensures that the proposals take account of the site’s setting and are able to realise the opportunities for enhancement of the local, rural landscape.

Local land owner, James Eld stated; “The proposal offers the opportunity to secure a landmark leisure and business facility of great quality that respects the environment and responds and reflects the historical nature and use of the site as an airfield.”

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driveme.net Ltd. provides professionally guided driving experiences for the general public and corporate driving days for team building and client invitation. It also instructs less able and partially sighted visitors and young drivers 12 to 16 years old in a safe and fully supervised driving environment.

The driveme.net range of experiences include driving under supervision or being driven in road legal vehicles that include saloon cars, higher powered performance cars and 4×4’s.

Seighford airfield will continue in use as an emergency landing strip and as a base for gliders and light aircraft. It has been used for over 10 years for motor vehicle demonstration.

Press Contacts: Marketing Projects T: 01244 330000 W: <a href=” http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk”>www.marketingprojects.co.uk http://www.driveme.net/staffordactivitycentre”>www.driveme.net/staffordactivitycentre Phil Brotherhood Jane Harrad-Roberts E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk jane@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07884 493370 M: 07785 395705

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