Airport resistance: the story of the Wing revolt

Back in the 1960s our forward-thinking transport planners commissioned a search for the location of London's third airport. Stansted started out as the forerunner, but by 1969 had been ruled out and Wing Airport, a small World War II airfield at Cublington, became the Government's preferred choice.

They hadn't counted on local opposition to their plans. On the eve of the Roskill report's publication, a small group of villagers came together to form the Wing Airport Resistance Association. Funds for the campaign came from numerous sources, from the sale of original fleet street cartoons to beetle drives, and at Stewkley a 'mile of pennies' outside the church raised a considerable sum.

After a ferocious campaign to save their community, the WARA successfully persuaded the Government to move the airport to Foulness in Essex - although this move was finally vetoed by the War Department.

Buckinghamshire County Council celebrated the victory by planting a spinney of over 400 trees, on a 3 acre site that would have been the centre of the airport.