Tim Shorland, who claims to hold the rights to minerals lying beneath Filton Airfield, wants to test the site for shale gas reserves. Mr Shorland, who bought the title of Lord of the Manor of Hempton and Northwick 25 years ago, will ask developers planning to transform the airfield into housing for permission to carry out the tests.
He says the title, which he bought for £7,000, gives him the right “to tap into the mines and minerals” a foot beneath the surface of the airfield, which was sold by BAE Systems to London-based developers Bridgehouse Capital Ltd last year for £120 million.
The 72-year-old said the process of fracking would only delay the development of the airfield by “a few years”. Mr Shorland and fellow Lord of the Manor Tex Woodward, who claims to have legal rights to minerals on another part of the airfield, believe that structural work for housing can not commence without their consent.
Mr Shorland said: “Tex and I wanted to keep the airfield. I can’t explain how important it is for the aircraft industry to have an airfield. If we were in a time of crisis again and needed to build another one, we couldn’t afford to do it. The cost would be colossal.”
Mr Shorland, who was taken to the High Court by BAE Systems over his lordship rights in 2006, said he bought the title in a bid to fight previous plans to turn the airfield into a fully fledged airport and to ensure that it retained its rural character.
A company spokesman said: “We have had previous dealings with him, and we do not believe there to be any truth in the claims.”