Manchester air traffic control to close
forced to move to Scotland.
only skeleton staff remaining in the control tower. This means all air operations
– apart from take-offs and landings – will be controlled from a new £170m centre
in Prestwick, Ayrshire – more than 250 miles away.
on the fourth floor, is no longer fit for purpose and they rejected concerns that
passengers’ safety could be put at risk by the upheaval.
from Greater Manchester and Cheshire. They were given the option of relocating,
redundancy or retirement, with 180 workers – and their families – opting to move
to Scotland.
since it opened in January 1975 and has decided not to relocate. He said: "It
wasn’t right for me to move at my age. I didn’t feel it was the best option for
me or the company so I am going to retire. I’ve seen huge changes over my time
here but I’m most proud of our safety record as Manchester is second to none.
I’m sure it will be a very emotional last day."
final preparations for their new life in Scotland. They have just sold their house
in Glossop and are on the verge of buying a property near their new workplace.
wrench to leave Manchester as Phil has family nearby and it’s a lovely place to
live and work but we are both optimistic about the future. The relocation package
was outstanding and the removal company is always at the other end of the phone
so we had no worries on that score. It will be sad to say goodbye to colleagues
but overall it’s an exciting time for us."
a decade ago. The company’s London centre has already shut, leaving Prestwick
and Southampton to control British airspace.
more than 800 staff, will cover the largest airspace in Europe.
180 families 250 miles north and that’s not something to be done lightly. We have
put a massive programme of financial and pastoral support in place. For any family,
this is massive and it will be sad to leave the region, but the Manchester centre
has reached the end of its life and we have to move."