Totally agree with the above, the local press has lambasted the Council for charging this fee and of course Ryanair have taken the usual stance but I haven't heard of too many complaints from Monarch, Air Southwest or Skybus.
They are quite within their rights and there is nothing new about airports charging ' departure tax, security fee, handling surcharge, apron fees call them what you will it all amounts to covering the cost.
I do think though the Council have rather shot themselves in the foot in the way they introduced this additional charge and should probably just have bought in or increased another charge on pax carried rather than put a ticket machine in the airport!
They might be very good at some things but running an airport is not high on that list!