Bristol Airport boss defends expansion plans
14.03.09
The boss at Bristol Airport has hit back at local MP Liam Fox for suggesting development plans should be shelved due to the recession. Chief executive Robert Sinclair has said he is disappointed by a letter sent to him by Mr Fox and fellow MP John Penrose, which suggests the case for expanding the site should be reconsidered. The Weston and Woodspring MPs have said they find it hard to believe that passenger numbers will increase as much as predicted.
Proposals for a £150m redevelopment of the site include doubling the size of the terminal, increasing the number of aircraft stands by nine and walkways leading from the terminal to awaiting planes, more airport parking and an airport hotel.
The letter was written as part of a consultation on the airport's expansion, which has been running since January and ended last week. It was held to find out people's views on the plans before an application is submitted to North Somerset Council in April.
However, Mr Sinclair said: ‘I take issue with what the MPs are saying about the recession impacting on passenger numbers. We have had a lot of growth over the last five years and despite the recession we still think this will go up. Our volumes in 2009 will be relatively flat but we know they will begin to expand again in 2010.’
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