Call for safety review after glider club crash (From Stroud News and Journal)

Call for safety review after glider club crash

CALLS for an investigation into safety procedures at the Cotswold Gliding Club have been made following the fatal crash at Aston Down.

"There have been two accidents in as many years," said Cllr Stan Waddington, ward councillor for Gloucestershire County Council and a member of Minchinhampton Parish Council.

"I think one's got to have some concerns about safety procedures at the glider club.

"I've been in touch with the Air Accident Investigation Branch and I think we need to see a copy of their report before we make any assumptions.

"Before we have that information we can't prejudge the issue and say what could or should be done.

"It may be that there are no related factors that link the two crashes and it is just a case of incredibly bad luck," he added.

"But the questions have to be asked."

Andrew Flewelling, chairman of the glider club, said he was happy to speak to Minchinhampton Parish Council to discuss the accident and surrounding issues with the members.

"It's a little bit early for us to draw any conclusions," he said.

"We don't want to prejudge the report.

"But we want to reassure people we'll be doing all that's needed to get to the bottom of this."

* For full story see this week's News & Journal