Facebook campaign launched by local frequent flyer to ‘save’ Durham Tees Valley Airport
A frequent flyer who uses Durham Tees Valley airport has launched a Facebook campaign to ‘save’ the Airport. She is concerned about the airport’s “master plan.” This aims to secure the airport’s long term future by the development of 400 homes on land to the west and north of the terminal which officials say would generate millions of pounds of investment to put back into the airport. The frequent flyer says she gets “so frustrated that we cannot use Teesside Airport.” The Facebook page has over 2,000 “likes” with many people irritated by the behaviour of t he owners, Peel Holdings. One typical post says: “COME ON people of the North East…..we have a mountain to climb ……we MUST get our message across to politicians and councils (supposedly who have our interests at heart) that we are not prepared to sit back and watch this “BEAST” of a company take our airport away !!!” The airport had 159,300 passengers in 2013 compared with over 900,000 in 2005 and 2006.
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Facebook campaign launched to ‘save’ Durham Tees Valley Airport
26th February 2014
By Hannah Bryan, Reporter, The Northern Echo (Darlington)
Campaign launched to ‘save’ Durham Tees Valley AirportA FREQUENT flyer has launched a campaign to ‘save’ Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Suzanne Foster, of Potto, near Stokesley, created the Facebook page,Save Teesside Airport, to voice her concerns over a masterplan unveiled by the airport’s owner, Peel Holdings, which aims to secure the airport’s long term future.
The plans would see the development of 400 homes on land to the west and north of the terminal which officials say would generate millions of pounds of investment to put back into the airport.
Mrs Foster, 69, said: “I travel a lot and get so frustrated that we cannot use Teesside Airport.
“Teesside has got excellent transport links which others, like Leeds Bradford, do not have, and has one of the longest runways in the country and a better weather record.
“There are so many people around here who feel the airport has been left to disappear.”
The Facebook page was set up about a week ago and has already received hundreds of messages of support.
It comes just weeks after Middlesbrough councillor, Chris Hobson, launched a petition calling on the Government to safeguard the airport.
Mrs Foster has also written to local MPs, Friends of Durham Tees Valley Airport, travel companies and Virgin boss, Sir Richard Branson, to help find a way forward for the airport.
She is also urging people to attend a public meeting hosted by the Friends of Durham Tees Valley Airport at 7pm on Friday, March 7 at the airport’s St George Hotel.
For more information on the campaign visitfacebook.com and search Save Teesside Airport.
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Terminal Passengers:
UK Airport Statistics: 2012 – annual (Table 10.3) Terminal Passengers 2002 – 2012
2013 159,311,000 (down – 3.3% on 2012
2006 912 thousand
2005 902 ”
2000 740 ”
1996 429 “
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Durham Tees Valley Airport should go for Government cash a third time, claims Sedgefield MP
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Date added: October 14, 2013
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Bosses at Durham Tees Valley Airport express “acute disappointment” at bid failure
19.10.2012 AIRPORT bosses expressed their “acute disappointment” at the Government’s decision to reject a bid for regeneration cash. However, Durham they said they remained committed to the Southside freight terminal development – despite the failure of the £5.9m Regional Growth Fund (RGF) application. DTVA chairman Robert Hough said the company would be demanding an explanation from ministers after the RGF bid was turned down. “It was hoped the £5.9m scheme, which would take ten years to complete and create up to 1,500 jobs, could breathe new life into the airport, which was close to going out of business last year amid falling passenger numbers.” Click here to view full story …
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