DOCUMENTS relating to the role of The Charterhouse building at RAF Manby were hidden during the Cold War.
This emerged at a planning inquiry where East Lindsey District District council's conservation officer Rob Walker said: "People in high places didn't want the Russians to know about it."
The building, now derelict, is the subject of a dispute dat
ing back to 2004 between its Rugby based owners, Davilion Build & Design, and ELDC.
The former want to change the office use of the property and extend it to accommodate 39 apartments.
However, the council believe the scheme submitted would detract from the historic character of a building which has been listed by English Heritage because of its importance dating back to 1936 when it was part of the old RAF training college complex.
The absence of documentation - including the original architects' drawings - created difficulties for both sides when they locked horns at last Wednesday's inquiry held at the council's HQ at Tedder Hall on the opposite side of the car park from The Charterhouse.
Both sides agree it would be beneficial to bring the building back into use, but they are at odds on how best this might be achieved.
The hearing was conducted by a government appointed inspector who will weigh up both sides of the argument before announcing his decision later this autumn.
The full article contains 230 words and appears in Louth Leader newspaper.
