Supporters of the campaign to reopen Plymouth Airport have been given fresh hope after Plymouth City Council’s new leader said it was a core priority.
Cllr Richard Bingley has revealed that that he has instructed officers to ensure that the city council acquires control of the airfield site from current leaseholders Sutton Harbour Holdings.
Cllr Bingley said:
“For us to be able to grow and importantly thrive, enticing new businesses to Plymouth and attract higher value jobs for local people, we cannot allow the city to become an island – cutting it off from the rest of the South West and beyond.
“Whilst we will continue to lobby for investment across the whole transport infrastructure, it is clear to me now that the airport issue needs to be resolved once and for all. Reiterating what I said at the full council meeting this week, the airport site and a modern aviation solution was, and remains, a core priority for this council.
“The airport closed in 2011 and has remained unused since that time. I am keen that we take action now to ensure that the site can make an important contribution towards the city’s future.
“That is why I have instructed officers to ensure that the council acquires control of the airport site. I have repeatedly met with council officers and key industry stakeholders to set out our ambitions in this space, and whilst I appreciate it is a difficult situation – I remain determined to resolve the lease issue and I am hopeful that a solution can be found.
“Last year we have made funding available in the capital programme to continue these negotiations with Sutton Harbour Holdings and I would like this work to continue at pace.”
One of the leading campaigners,Cllr Maddi Bridgeman, who represents the Moor View ward, said that the news would be music to many residents’ ears and would be appreciated.
FlyPlymouth, which has been campaigning for a return to operations at the airport for more than 10 years, said there was still a good economic case for bringing back flights to and from the city and it has a ‘robust plan’ supported by financial backers.
Until now, FlyPlymouth has emphasised reopening Plymouth Airport initially for a variety of private, business, military, training and other kinds of flying collectively known as general aviation (GA). The reason being that when it does open, it will take time to allow new systems, processes and staff to bed in.
It added:
“The present opportunity for Plymouth, West Devon, South Hams and east Cornwall to benefit from Plymouth Airport has never been stronger. But we need the political leadership to make it a reality.”
