Council leaders angry over reports Durham Tees Valley Airport may close
29.01.12
Council leaders have accused the owners of Durham Tees Valley Airport of ‘reneging’ on their promises ahead of a crunch decision on the loss-making airport’s future, the Northern Echo reports. Peel Airports is expected to decide in days whether to continue trying to sell the airport or to call in administrators – a move that could spell the end of flights.
The airport’s mounting problems have caused growing concern among the five local authorities with a minority shareholding in the business. Last night Stockton Borough Council issued a statement expressing the authority’s ‘deep disappointment’ that Peel had put the airport on the market when, 18 months earlier, the firm was planning to invest in the business.
Stockton Borough Council deputy leader Councillor Jim Beall told the newspaper that only days before the airport was put up for sale, Peel assured council bosses it had exciting plans for the future, after the recession saw major airlines abandon the airport and a plunge in passenger numbers.
Darlington council leader Bill Dixon said he shared Stockton council’s concerns. He said: ‘Peel made certain commitments that have not been honoured. I would expect the company to either honour those commitments or sell the airport to someone who will.’
The Northern Echo reports a decision on the sale process will be made within a week, with the options including an extension of the sales period or the airport being placed into administration. Peel Airports did not respond to the newspapers requests for a comment.
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