Newquay Airport flights may be suspended
All flights might have to be suspended from Newquay Airport for almost three weeks after the transfer of the airport to Cornwall County Council was put on hold.
Council bosses are waiting this afternoon to hear whether the RAF would provide services enable civilian flights to continue until December 19 – the new date for the changeover. The handover was originally set to take place on Monday.
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The delay happened after the county council found it was not ready to takeover air traffic control operations for the airport – it said that in all over aspects of the licence have been fulfilled.
Executive councillor Andrew Mitchell said that the council did not want to put safety at risk.
He said: "The county council is not in the position to have the handover on December 1. There is no way that the county council would compromise health and safety.
"There is a scenario that flights would not be able to continue between December 1 and December 19 but we hope that the RAF will say they can continue to provide the services we need for operations to continue at the airport."
The council said it hoped the RAF would make a decision this afternoon.
Cllr Mitchell said that despite the delay he was still "proud" of the work which had taken place in preparing for the handover.
He said: "It has been a completely unique challenge and at the final hour we have been unable to complete – however that does not reflect the hard work and dedication of the county council staff and the airport team have put in to get us to this stage.
"I am still immensely proud of what we have done, where we are and what we have achieved.
"I would also like to thank the RAF for the help that they have given us – they have helped us tremendously and we hope they will continue to help us at the eleventh hour."
The county council has also launched its masterplan for the airport today which will be subject to an extensive period of public consultation.
Included in the masterplan are developments in and around the airport for the next 20 years which could cost in the region of £150million and £200million.
Newquay Cornwall Airport Project Director Chris Cain said: "We are looking at major development on the south side of the airport.
"This will include hangars for maintenance purposes and also a business park which we hope to attract aviation businesses to. There are also proposals for a hotel and conference suite.
"Over a 20 year period we anticipate that there could be £150m to £200m investment in the airport and that will need substantial private sector investment."
:: Check back here for updates on the RAF's position when we hear it.
3 Comments
by FRANK BEEVERS, perranporth, cornwall
Saturday, November 29 2008, 2:05PM
“please do not tell us how proud you are, either of yourself, or your staff. You have failed in your appointed task, you have failed the people who trusted you, you have got paid hoodles of money, and you are incompetent. Proud is something you should not claim to be. Because of your incompetence, I will have to drive 1400 miles in two days, each day sandwiched within a six day working week. Such an effort, by you and your staff, if there is an ounce of sense between you, would have avoided this catastrophy. This cockup will eat up my profits for the week, but that is not likely to bother you proud people. Get it straight, you are not paid to drool over your failed efforts. Perhaps if you had spent less time, patting yourselves on the back for your failed efforts, you might have achieved your goal.”
by Norman Pringle, Nancegollan Helston
Wednesday, November 26 2008, 8:31PM
“This is typical of CCC they have had the dates changed at least three times and at the last moment they say that they cannot complete because of health and safety. The RAF ATC personnel are posted out and now the CCC want the RAF to help out yet again and no cost to them. Its the inept process that the so called elite airport team have followed all along. Dave Whalley at Royal Cornwall Show said they might have to close down for two to three days to organise the handover. Now its three weeks. Why have the CAA failed them at this late hour?This date was agreed with them to give them time to organise correctly.This is another debacle just like Terminal 5. This is costing both the MOD and us local tax payers money and shows how rediculous it is - thee lines between RAF st Mawgan and the MOD must have been red hot. Ask the Minister what he wants to do the Station Commander can't authorised a change just like that, What a terrible state of affairs”
by GMK, cornwall
Wednesday, November 26 2008, 6:35PM
“So they've failed, but are still 'proud' of their achievement. Only in the public sector......
I only hope that the council will be paying compensation for the ruined holiday plans of the thousands who would have been using the airport over the next few weeks.”