THE owner of Headcorn Aerodrome has set a date for a public meeting to allay residents' fears over controversial plans for night flying. Jamie Freeman, whose family has owned the aerodrome since 1927, says he wants to set the record straight about what night flying entails.

"I think it's just ignorance," Mr Freeman said. "It's not going to be like London Headcorn at all, it's just a ridiculous suggestion."

The meeting will be held at Headcorn Village Hall, Station Road, Headcorn, on Wednesday, December 21, at 6pm. Mr Freeman will be there, along with James Tuke, owner of Thurston's Helicopters, based at the aerodrome, Andrew Biall, flying instructor and David Parker of the Parachute Club.

Mr Freeman had applied to Maidstone council for eight nights of after-dark flying, but withdrew the application following complaints about the likely extra noise from people living nearby.

He has been keen to set up a meeting in Headcorn ever since, so that villagers' questions can be answered face-to-face by the pilots and instructors.