Member Article

Aviation report 'kick in the teeth' says Tees MP

A Teesside MP has criticised a commission tasked with looking at airport capacity in the South East as an insult to Durham Tees Valley.

Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, reckons that relying on existing UK runways to provide extra capacity for the South East was a “distinctly sub-optimal solution.”

But Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop has hit out at the interim findings.

He says they are “simply dismissing the case for regional airports” and is a kick in the teeth to the region’s airport.

Mr Blenkinsop’s comments came as Durham Tees Valley (DTVA) bosses revealed their plans to consult on a major 10-year blueprint, aimed at safeguarding the future of the ailing airport.

In a speech Sir Howard said “regional airports are already serving their local markets effectively but it is difficult to see how they can absorb all the excess demand”.

Mr Blenkinsop said: “This is a pure and simple kick in the teeth for Britain’s regional airports, like our own one, Durham Tees Valley.

“Britain is a small country, and there is no reason why all the eggs and the goodies have to be put into the South-east basket.

“DTVA has one of the longest runways in the nation with a location literally minutes away from the A1 and the A19 and a main line railway running past, it has serious potential for air freight as a way of taking pressure off of airports like Heathrow and Gatwick which should be obvious to anyone.

“Now we see the man who was supposed to be taking a strategic look at UK airport capacity, dismissing the DVTA case at the very same time that its owners, Peel Airports, are looking to a new application to the Government’s Regional Growth Fund for expansion.

“This is plain crazy, and I would hope Mr Davies thinks again about his interim conclusions.”

Meanwhile, businesses and regeneration chiefs have welcomed the airport’s masterplan, due in a few weeks.

Local Enterprise Partnership, Tees Valley Unlimited, said it was important for the airport to have “a vision for a successful future”.

Gary Watson, business operations manager for Serco, the international fire training centre at the airport, said: “Any development that strengthens the airport’s trading position is good for Serco. We support their efforts to have a vibrant, diversified operation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .