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7 months ago
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A businessman convicted of assaulting a parish council chairman in a row over birds' nests has also infuriated local residents for multiple breaches of planning rules at the private airport his company owns.
Chris Makin, 65, was convicted of assaulting Andrew Mason, 63, and fined £4,800 for dragging him by the hair and 'throwing him to the floor in a headlock' when he tried to stop contractors working for Makin from cutting back trees that could contain nests in the North Yorkshire village of Church Fenton.
It has now emerged that the parish council led by Mr Mason has played a key role in challenging Makin's family firm for allegedly breaching planning rules and carrying out works without permission at the Leeds East Airport site on the edge of the village.
Mr Mason, a property developer, said Makin's family firms based at the airport have a 'laissez faire approach to planning.'
'Things are carried out upon the airfield that don't have planning permission and it's only when they are brought to the attention of the planning and enforcement officers that any action seems to be done,' he said.
Businessman Chris Makin, 65, who was convicted of assaulting a parish council chairman in a row over birds' nests, pictured at the launch of Makin Enterprise's new business Makin Air
Mobile phone footage of the incident in the North Yorkshire village of Church Fenton where council chair Andrew Mason (left), 63, can be seen being dragged by his trousers by Makin
In the video, Mr Mason is seen lying on the floor and can be heard shouting 'get off me', as Makin tears at his clothes and hair trying to remove him from the front of the cherry-picker
Mr Mason said local residents were concerned about 'increased traffic' and the 'visual impact' of development at the airport.
The opposition to his company's activities may have been an additional factor behind Makin's treatment of Mr Mason – captured on video by another resident – when he blocked a cherry picker in April last year.
The parish council chairman certainly seems a popular character in the village, manning the till in the 'community shop' today.
Mr Mason described Makin as an 'arrogant obnoxious bully' and commented: 'Most people locally are aware of Mr Makin as he is a big noise in the village. People are supportive of me trying to protect the village.'
Makin's family firm bought the 450-acre RAF Church Fenton airfield site in 2014 and launched a private aviation service there.
Now called Leeds East Airport, it also has various business activities on the site, including a film studios, where the TV series Victoria was made.
The latest planning battle concerns an 'illegal' 'bund' or embankment built around the airport without planning permission three years ago.
The banking, intended to screen stored outdoor vehicles, goes around the perimeter of the site in a u-shape and is 15 metres wide and six metres high.
Chris Makin at the launch of his Makin Air business in 2015 which is Yorkshire's doorstep to destination travel service offering both helicopter and jets at Church Fenton
Makin is also being challenged by councillors for allegedly breaching planning rules and carrying out works without permission at the Leeds East Airport site
Parish council chair Andrew Mason, pictured speaking to the media outside Harrogate Magistrates Court in North Yorkshire, allegedly played a key role in challenging Makin's family firm for allegedly breaching planning rules
Following complaints to the planning authority a 'retrospective' planning application has been submitted for the bund by Makins Ltd.
Church Fenton parish council has written to North Yorkshire Council strongly objecting to the bund, commenting: 'The fact that the bund has already been constructed without permission is a serious breach of planning regulations, and sets a worrying precedent for future development in the area.'
Adding: 'The damage has already been done, but it is vital that planning regulations are followed to protect the local environment and ecosystem.'
Local resident Michael O'Connell objected with the comment: 'The bund has already been constructed without planning permission and is an eyesore in the village. It adversely affects the view and landscapes of the village.'
He said the work 'demonstrates the applicant's attitude towards regulations giving no confidence that they will comply with regulations in the future. It also demonstrates their lack of regard for the people who live in the area.'
While Jason Sharpe commented: 'They can't just keep doing what they want and ask for permission after. The whole area is becoming a visual eyesore. Views all around have been ruined. The environment for residents destroyed. I wanted away from the hustle and bustle of traffic and urban spread. You look out across the field and we opposite and inland port by the looks of it.'
Church Fenton Parish Council has also written to the council complaining that the bund is not screening motor vehicles but 'shipping containers stacked three high'.
Chris Makin in the North Yorkshire village of Church Fenton during a dispute about birds' nests
Defendant Chris Makin (left) leaves Harrogate Magistrates Court. He said the fine was 250 per cent of his weekly income
A letter from the parish council clerk Robin Harris urged the planning authority to take tougher action: 'The potential number of retrospective applications should be seen as a warning sign that the operator pays scant regard to planning controls.'
Makin's Leeds East Airport is also in trouble for several other planning breaches.
A letter from Rachel Robinson, North Yorkshire Council's principal planning enforcement officer, seen by Mailonline reveals that five 'temporary buildings' have been erected without planning consent, which is required.
The airport site is also being used for unauthorised storage of 'items' and the airport owners have been ordered to stop.
While a 'microbrewery' and motor vehicle training business are being run illegally as previous 'temporary' planning consent had expired.
Mr Makin has been contacted for comment.
Last June Makins Ltd was granted permission for a 15,000 square metre of new film-making facilities on the airfield site.
Mr Makin said the former RAF site was being transformed into a 'thriving multi-use destination for TV production, events and businesses.'
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