Yes,it is essential that if something as significant as changing the airports name is to be done, then it should be done properly.That's why a lot of people were bemused when 12 months after the change ,many tour operators were showing TEES-SIDE in their brochures, most european departure and arrivals boards had TEES-SIDE on their displays, and up until very recently 119.8 and 118.85 were TEES tower and TEES radar!
The problem with the road signs was allegedly that Highways Agency were unhappy that drivers seeing the Durham tees-valley signs would wrongly interpret then as directions to Durham City,25 miles up the (wrong) road.
I think that it is ironic that the very Airline who insisted upon Peel rebranding the airport have now pulled the plug.
For the sake of a lot of peoples jobs it is to be hoped that Ryanair or Thomsonfly get in quickand pick up some of the routes, or a cold winter will be followed by a pretty miserable summer.