DfT says no stone should be left unturned in a bid to re-open Manston airport

Date added: 17 December, 2014

The Department for Transport says no stone should be left unturned in attempts to secure a future for aviation at the Manston airport site. The DfT says it will “explore options to move forward” following a meeting chaired by Transport Minister John Hayes on 11th December. A DfT spokesperson said Mr Hayes agreed to coordinate work across all of Government to explore options to move forward…….wherever appropriate cooperation between Government and Thanet District Council could be achieved every effort should be made to keep it open as an airport.  A week earlier Thanet District Council voted not to select American investment firm RiverOak as its indemnity partners for a potential compulsory purchase of the former airport site. The airport closed in May 2014, with the loss of 150 jobs. As the council voted against the compulsory purchase order on 11th December, the extraordinary meeting to debate the wider issues surrounding the Manston airport site took place on December 16th. Thanet council is not keen to spend a lot of taxpayers’ money in an unsuccessful attempt to save the airport, even though several hundred people want this.

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DfT: No stone should be left unturned in bid to reopen Manston airport

By Tom Barnes  (Isle of Thanet Gazette)

December 16, 2014

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The DfT has waded into the debate surrounding the future of Manston airport (Pic: Simon Moores/Airads)

THE Department for Transport says no stone should be left unturned in attempts to secure a future for aviation at the Manston airport site.

The Government department said it will “explore options to move forward” following a meeting chaired by Transport Minister John Hayes last Thursday.

A DfT spokesperson said: “Mr Hayes agreed to coordinate work across all of Government to explore options to move forward.

“During a wide reaching and constructive discussion, all parties agreed that wherever appropriate cooperation between Government and Thanet District Council could be achieved, no stone should be left unturned in establishing what could be done to secure Manston’s future as an airport.

“The council agreed to provide Government, where appropriate, with the information necessary to take things forward.“This follows a period of engagement which has included the involvement of the Prime Minister, Grant Shapps, and other ministers.”The statement comes after discussions between Mr Hayes, Thanet MPs Sir Roger Gale and Laura Sandys and Thanet council leader Iris Johnston.

Last week, the local authority’s cabinet voted not to select American investment firm RiverOak as its indemnity partners for a potential compulsory purchase of the former airport site.

http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/DfT-stone-left-unturned-bid-reopen-Manston/story-25719310-detail/story.html

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Cabinet votes CP-NO on Manston airport- for now

By Tom Barnes (Isle of Thanet Gazette)

December 11, 2014

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Council cabinet members voted not to pursue a CPO of Manston airport with RiverOak

THANET council cabinet members have voted not to pursue a compulsory purchase of the Manston airport site, but the move is unlikely to mark the end of the saga.Cabinet unanimously agreed to officers’ recommendations published last week, which concluded potential partners RiverOak did not have “appropriate financial status” to operate an airport.However, an additional motion was passed, meaning the council will write to RiverOak requesting the American firm sends confidential financial information to Transport Minister John Hayes for further inspection.

The move comes after council leader Iris Johnston held talks over the airport with the minister in London today (Thursday).

Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Cllr Johnston said: “The council cannot be expected to take a leap of faith- we have to be mindful.

“We cannot risk council tax payers’ funds and we have to have an indemnity partner that covers all the costs.”

Around 100 airport campaigners stood outside the local authority’s offices in Cecil Square, Margate before and during the meeting.

Conservative group leader Bob Bayford said: “People cannot seem to understand why the only people who are not in favour of a CPO is us [Thanet council]

“The people are looking to you [Cllr Johnston] to go for this- they’re looking for leadership and I do not think up until now that has really happened.”

All councillors will now debate the wider issues surrounding the Manston airport site at an extraordinary meeting scheduled to take place on December 16.

http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Cabinet-votes-CP-Manston-airport/story-25666711-detail/story.html

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Posted: Wednesday, December 17th, 2014. Filed in News about Airports, Recent News.