MANSTON -3
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DeeDave - over 10,000 membership signatures have been collected on paper by one of the other pro-Manston Airport groups.
On Monday 21st July a petition was presented to 10 Downing St, by the Thanet MPs Sir Roger Gale and Laura Sandys, TG Aviation and the Save Manston Airport group. This petition had 26,524 signatures in support of re-opening Manston as a working airport : 16,552 online & 9,972 on paper
A 38 degrees double poll "Yes to CPO" / "No to CPO" run by an independent organisation has reached the heady total of 41 votes against re-opening Manston Airport, and remained at a steady 98% votes in support of reopening, across both Kent and Thanet.
On Monday 21st July a petition was presented to 10 Downing St, by the Thanet MPs Sir Roger Gale and Laura Sandys, TG Aviation and the Save Manston Airport group. This petition had 26,524 signatures in support of re-opening Manston as a working airport : 16,552 online & 9,972 on paper
A 38 degrees double poll "Yes to CPO" / "No to CPO" run by an independent organisation has reached the heady total of 41 votes against re-opening Manston Airport, and remained at a steady 98% votes in support of reopening, across both Kent and Thanet.
Last edited by DrBeauWebber; 22nd Mar 2015 at 15:41. Reason: more information
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These petitions are well known in East Kent and are rapidly losing credibility. None of the signatories, whether online or on paper have been independently verified, and anyone with an ounce of common sense knows how such things can be altered to suit the needs of a lobby group. The only proven survey was taken by the council which showed a 2:1 opposition to night flights. The reality is probably that the local population has little interest in Manston Airport, as evidenced by it's poor economic performance when it was open. The core group of activists looks to be a couple of hundred people, as this is the number who turn up to the various rallies. A local schoolteacher is standing for parliamentary election as candidate for the "Manston Independent Party". It will be interesting to see how many votes she gets.
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I seem to recall that the last re-opening plan I saw failed because it involved the local authority taking significant financial risk in the event of the failure of the airport (which the pro-airport crowd claimed was minimal as the developer offered to underwrite it, but which was not at all as the in the event of the failure of the airport the developers ability to make good on the promise was likely to be limited ).
Has the plan actually changed since then, or are they just hoping that some publicity will bully the local authority into signing on the dotted line?
Has the plan actually changed since then, or are they just hoping that some publicity will bully the local authority into signing on the dotted line?
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No new plan has been announced.
"Bullying" is probably the correct term.
Google "support manston facebook" and you can see it for yourself.
Kent County Council has produced a succint and accurate description of the airports 15 year "commercial" history.
This can be found by Googling "manston pickle facebook".
Good Luck!
"Bullying" is probably the correct term.
Google "support manston facebook" and you can see it for yourself.
Kent County Council has produced a succint and accurate description of the airports 15 year "commercial" history.
This can be found by Googling "manston pickle facebook".
Good Luck!
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This is a continuation of the Save Manston Airport Newsletter, posted 21st March : #1673
Updated 2015-04-01
So Manston Airport is being noticed nationally – As well as the Conservatives and Labour, UKIP also have made it their main plank down here in Thanet, and no one doubts Russ Timpson's and the Lib Dem's commitment to Manston Airport. We are indeed forging true cross-party support for Manston Airport.
Now we need Thanet District Council to listen to them all and go for the Compulsory Purchase Order.
But we also need to ask what is the situation regarding Manston Airport at Kent County Council (KCC), and we need an explanation of KCC Leader Paul Carter’s position on Manston Airport. On the surface, the matter could not be clearer :
On Thursday 17th July Kent County Council (KCC) held a Council Meeting, and unanimously supported : “Kent County Council supports the actions taken so far by Thanet District Council to retain Manston as a regional airport. We recognise the value that a regional airport brings to East Kent and are disappointed at its closure. Kent County Council will explore with Thanet District Council ways in which it can support proposals to retain Manston as an airport.” KCC’s first ever unanimous Full Council vote !
Excellent – so what have they done to support TDC in the intervening 8 months ? – Well after much investigation they claim to have sent one email to a TDC officer.
The Select Committee on Transport (Smaller Airports) had this to say :
Kent County Council
49. Kent County Council (KCC) is the local transport authority for Kent, which means it has strategic oversight of aviation in the county. On 17 July 2014, KCC considered the case of Manston airport. County councillors agreed the following motion by 82 votes to nil:
That Kent County Council supports the actions taken so far by Thanet District Council to retain Manston as a regional airport. We recognise the value that a regional airport brings to East Kent and are disappointed at its closure. Kent County Council will explore with Thanet District Council ways in which it can support proposals to retain Manston as an airport.[69]
Paul Carter, Leader, KCC, attended and voted at that meeting.
50. In September 2014, Paul Carter commented on the sale of Manston to Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner:
Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner have a fantastic track record in taking over large and difficult sites following the demise of earlier uses, and regenerating them to create jobs and bring economic benefits to the wider area. Their team has done this at Wynyard Park in Billingham, where they have created 2,000 jobs and attracted £200 million of private investment, and at Discovery Park here in Kent where more than 1,000 new jobs have been added to the 600 that Pfizer left behind. I have every confidence that they can do even more at Manston.[70]
Paul Carter's remarks in September 2014 were inconsistent with the motion agreed by KCC on 17 July 2014.
51. We asked Paul Carter to explain his position. He told us that "the motion that was supported unanimously by the county council said we would be prepared to support Thanet district council in a CPO process at Manston, provided a viable and thriving airport could be delivered at Manston."[71] He subsequently admitted that there was no such caveat to the KCC motion.[72]
He also reiterated his enthusiasm for the redevelopment of the Manston site rather than its operating as an airport.[73]
We asked him whether Trevor Cartner or Chris Musgrave had shown him detailed plans for the redevelopment. He replied, "They showed me nothing."[74]
52. Kent County Council has the legal and financial resources to assess complex CPO cases. Despite having agreed a motion to support Thanet District Council, it failed to deploy those assets. In failing to support Thanet District Council's scrutiny of the proposed CPO at Manston, Kent County Council also failed to fulfil its strategic oversight function as the local transport authority.
What has been Paul Carter’s response to this challenge by the Transport Select Committee ? Well he has had produced (we believe using KCC officers’ time and KCC money) a glossy 36 page PDF document traducing Manston Airport and RiverOak, and extolling the property speculators who are in charge of Manston Airport.
The Save Manston Airport association took a full 32 seater coach of supporters to County Hall, to attend the most recent KCC Full County Council.
Although Councillor after Councillor tried to raise the matter of Manston Airport, discussion was disallowed as the Leader Paul Carter had ignored the matter in his address. Councillor Will Scobie challenged the chair on the relevant point of the constitution, but this also was disallowed, though now is a matter for further discussion.
Current question remain, among others concerning why TDC did not reply positively to KCC’s apparent single offer of legal assistance ? This is under investigation by TDC.
Today, 1st April, the Secretary of State for Transport - The Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin - came down to Manston Airport at 1.00 p.m. to meet with Sir Roger Gale and Craig Mackinlay. At very short notice on a week day about 150 people turned out to cheer the unveiling and signing of a 5 point action plan. The Conservatives have firmly nailed their Rosette to the mast, there can be no going back for them ! As Sir Roger said, there is no Plan B.
Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport at Manston Airport 01/04/2015: "I just wanted to come down today to give you my assurance that we will do all we can to back the campaign and to see Manston being operated again as an airport and we will take the measures that are necessary to do that."
Sir Roger Gale: "The Prime Minister is behind this, the Department of Transport is behind it, that's why the Secretary of State for Transport is here today, the Department for Business is behind this. We want Manston up and running again, we are determined to achieve it."
Earlier in the week, commenting upon the announcement of new and extended Enterprise Zones, Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt has said: "….. our planning guidance is clear that aviation is a key driver for economic growth and that local authorities should always consider the role airports play in boosting connections for local people and businesses”.
The current situation is that Mr. Cartner and Mr. Musgrave, who are in charge of the airport, are publishing a whole page advert in two papers. The Save Manston Airport group raised over £1700 over the weekend, to fund a whole page advert as reply, in the Kentish Gazette, and the Supporters of Manston Airport are funding a £500 whole page advert in the KM Extra the following week.
Dr. Beau Webber
Chairman, Save Manston Airport Association.
Updated 2015-04-01
So Manston Airport is being noticed nationally – As well as the Conservatives and Labour, UKIP also have made it their main plank down here in Thanet, and no one doubts Russ Timpson's and the Lib Dem's commitment to Manston Airport. We are indeed forging true cross-party support for Manston Airport.
Now we need Thanet District Council to listen to them all and go for the Compulsory Purchase Order.
But we also need to ask what is the situation regarding Manston Airport at Kent County Council (KCC), and we need an explanation of KCC Leader Paul Carter’s position on Manston Airport. On the surface, the matter could not be clearer :
On Thursday 17th July Kent County Council (KCC) held a Council Meeting, and unanimously supported : “Kent County Council supports the actions taken so far by Thanet District Council to retain Manston as a regional airport. We recognise the value that a regional airport brings to East Kent and are disappointed at its closure. Kent County Council will explore with Thanet District Council ways in which it can support proposals to retain Manston as an airport.” KCC’s first ever unanimous Full Council vote !
Excellent – so what have they done to support TDC in the intervening 8 months ? – Well after much investigation they claim to have sent one email to a TDC officer.
The Select Committee on Transport (Smaller Airports) had this to say :
Kent County Council
49. Kent County Council (KCC) is the local transport authority for Kent, which means it has strategic oversight of aviation in the county. On 17 July 2014, KCC considered the case of Manston airport. County councillors agreed the following motion by 82 votes to nil:
That Kent County Council supports the actions taken so far by Thanet District Council to retain Manston as a regional airport. We recognise the value that a regional airport brings to East Kent and are disappointed at its closure. Kent County Council will explore with Thanet District Council ways in which it can support proposals to retain Manston as an airport.[69]
Paul Carter, Leader, KCC, attended and voted at that meeting.
50. In September 2014, Paul Carter commented on the sale of Manston to Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner:
Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner have a fantastic track record in taking over large and difficult sites following the demise of earlier uses, and regenerating them to create jobs and bring economic benefits to the wider area. Their team has done this at Wynyard Park in Billingham, where they have created 2,000 jobs and attracted £200 million of private investment, and at Discovery Park here in Kent where more than 1,000 new jobs have been added to the 600 that Pfizer left behind. I have every confidence that they can do even more at Manston.[70]
Paul Carter's remarks in September 2014 were inconsistent with the motion agreed by KCC on 17 July 2014.
51. We asked Paul Carter to explain his position. He told us that "the motion that was supported unanimously by the county council said we would be prepared to support Thanet district council in a CPO process at Manston, provided a viable and thriving airport could be delivered at Manston."[71] He subsequently admitted that there was no such caveat to the KCC motion.[72]
He also reiterated his enthusiasm for the redevelopment of the Manston site rather than its operating as an airport.[73]
We asked him whether Trevor Cartner or Chris Musgrave had shown him detailed plans for the redevelopment. He replied, "They showed me nothing."[74]
52. Kent County Council has the legal and financial resources to assess complex CPO cases. Despite having agreed a motion to support Thanet District Council, it failed to deploy those assets. In failing to support Thanet District Council's scrutiny of the proposed CPO at Manston, Kent County Council also failed to fulfil its strategic oversight function as the local transport authority.
What has been Paul Carter’s response to this challenge by the Transport Select Committee ? Well he has had produced (we believe using KCC officers’ time and KCC money) a glossy 36 page PDF document traducing Manston Airport and RiverOak, and extolling the property speculators who are in charge of Manston Airport.
The Save Manston Airport association took a full 32 seater coach of supporters to County Hall, to attend the most recent KCC Full County Council.
Although Councillor after Councillor tried to raise the matter of Manston Airport, discussion was disallowed as the Leader Paul Carter had ignored the matter in his address. Councillor Will Scobie challenged the chair on the relevant point of the constitution, but this also was disallowed, though now is a matter for further discussion.
Current question remain, among others concerning why TDC did not reply positively to KCC’s apparent single offer of legal assistance ? This is under investigation by TDC.
Today, 1st April, the Secretary of State for Transport - The Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin - came down to Manston Airport at 1.00 p.m. to meet with Sir Roger Gale and Craig Mackinlay. At very short notice on a week day about 150 people turned out to cheer the unveiling and signing of a 5 point action plan. The Conservatives have firmly nailed their Rosette to the mast, there can be no going back for them ! As Sir Roger said, there is no Plan B.
Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport at Manston Airport 01/04/2015: "I just wanted to come down today to give you my assurance that we will do all we can to back the campaign and to see Manston being operated again as an airport and we will take the measures that are necessary to do that."
Sir Roger Gale: "The Prime Minister is behind this, the Department of Transport is behind it, that's why the Secretary of State for Transport is here today, the Department for Business is behind this. We want Manston up and running again, we are determined to achieve it."
Earlier in the week, commenting upon the announcement of new and extended Enterprise Zones, Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt has said: "….. our planning guidance is clear that aviation is a key driver for economic growth and that local authorities should always consider the role airports play in boosting connections for local people and businesses”.
The current situation is that Mr. Cartner and Mr. Musgrave, who are in charge of the airport, are publishing a whole page advert in two papers. The Save Manston Airport group raised over £1700 over the weekend, to fund a whole page advert as reply, in the Kentish Gazette, and the Supporters of Manston Airport are funding a £500 whole page advert in the KM Extra the following week.
Dr. Beau Webber
Chairman, Save Manston Airport Association.
Last edited by DrBeauWebber; 1st Apr 2015 at 21:50.
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Really think so many of the 'save Manston' protaganists are clueless about the consequential costs of reinstating and then maintaining an airport with very limited viability for significant commercial operations.
Take Cornwall-owned Newquay for example which costs in subsidy about £3m/annum to the council - not a huge figure compared to the estimated gross value added to the economy, nevertheless, it's a cost. But it's the huge capital costs that will hurt over the years.
Cornwall Council spent approximately £76m transforming the former military airfield to a fully compliant civil airport – of this, £49m came from European funding, with £27m coming from the Council. The European funding agreement committed the Council to having an operational airport for the next twenty years. If the airport was to close before the 20 years was up, the Council could have to repay the £49m. Kent wouldn't qualify for that type of funding anyway.
Cornwall considered selling the airport - but you can only sell an airport if there is someone willing to buy it. The Council did test the market to see if anyone was interested prior to the last unitary election, but no buyers came forward. The national context of why no-one was interested could be the reason several UK airports run by the private sector either closed
or were brought back into the public sector because they were not viable. (Cardiff and Glasgow Prestwick).
So, the 530,000 good citizens of Cornwall pay perhaps an extra £6/annum to keep the place running, but it's the great chunks of capital that will hurt periodically to maintain, upgrade and remain compliant - money that will have to be diverted from other local services - hospitals, schools etc. Do the people of Thanet really think they want to face that? Probably not when they see the numbers for the next twenty years or more.
Take Cornwall-owned Newquay for example which costs in subsidy about £3m/annum to the council - not a huge figure compared to the estimated gross value added to the economy, nevertheless, it's a cost. But it's the huge capital costs that will hurt over the years.
Cornwall Council spent approximately £76m transforming the former military airfield to a fully compliant civil airport – of this, £49m came from European funding, with £27m coming from the Council. The European funding agreement committed the Council to having an operational airport for the next twenty years. If the airport was to close before the 20 years was up, the Council could have to repay the £49m. Kent wouldn't qualify for that type of funding anyway.
Cornwall considered selling the airport - but you can only sell an airport if there is someone willing to buy it. The Council did test the market to see if anyone was interested prior to the last unitary election, but no buyers came forward. The national context of why no-one was interested could be the reason several UK airports run by the private sector either closed
or were brought back into the public sector because they were not viable. (Cardiff and Glasgow Prestwick).
So, the 530,000 good citizens of Cornwall pay perhaps an extra £6/annum to keep the place running, but it's the great chunks of capital that will hurt periodically to maintain, upgrade and remain compliant - money that will have to be diverted from other local services - hospitals, schools etc. Do the people of Thanet really think they want to face that? Probably not when they see the numbers for the next twenty years or more.
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Manston Airport is not viable as an airport business.
Several airlines have attempted to make money flying scheduled services in/out of Manston. Some went bust trying whilst all the others lost money. The airport just doesn't have the population in its catchment area to make services viable. It is in the wrong place.
The campaign to 'save Manston' is deluded. The only reason politicians are showing an interest is because there is an election campaign and UKIP is contesting one of the local seats.
Several airlines have attempted to make money flying scheduled services in/out of Manston. Some went bust trying whilst all the others lost money. The airport just doesn't have the population in its catchment area to make services viable. It is in the wrong place.
The campaign to 'save Manston' is deluded. The only reason politicians are showing an interest is because there is an election campaign and UKIP is contesting one of the local seats.
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Regarding the two previous posts ..
The council will spend NO money in opening or running the airport, the proposed buyer and owner will cover all costs.
There are no plans to fly scheduled passenger services from the airport. Freight and other non airline operations will be the businesses on site.
The council will spend NO money in opening or running the airport, the proposed buyer and owner will cover all costs.
There are no plans to fly scheduled passenger services from the airport. Freight and other non airline operations will be the businesses on site.
Many airports and airlines quote the financial benefits for the area that an airport brings and claim thousands of jobs will be created if the airport continues or lost if it closes . There are even figures floated to suggest that the local economy benefits by £x millions. This is used to justify councils at places places like Prestwick and Derry spending large sums of money propping up dead airports. Many years ago there was an airline with F100s at Manston flying schedules Does anyone know if thousands of jobs in the local community were lost when the scheduled flights ended all those years ago and whether there was a big down turn in the local economy ?
bb
bb
All good knock about electioneering stuff!
However, surprised a Minister of State put his name to something which says the govt "...will make sure the CAA will grant the licence needed...as swiftly as possible".
Presumably this is sloppy drafting and means that the CAA will review the application quickly?
However, surprised a Minister of State put his name to something which says the govt "...will make sure the CAA will grant the licence needed...as swiftly as possible".
Presumably this is sloppy drafting and means that the CAA will review the application quickly?
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Accurate information for interested parties here.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/259697336/...anston-Airport
http://www.scribd.com/doc/259697336/...anston-Airport
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I have just arrived back from alicante today total mayhem at Gatwick speaking to a family from Margate in immigration they wished now manston was open I also totally believe now regional airports should be used landed at gatwick at 1440pm left gatwick at 1620pm?
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"Transport Minister John Hayes Delivers Double Boost for Manston Airport
John Hayes, the Minister of State for Aviation, has today delivered a double boost to the campaign to save Manston Airport. He has announced:
A new deal for search-and-rescue services in the South East of England: Bristow, the company that provides search-and-rescue services on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, had originally planned to base two helicopters at Manston, but the airport closed in May 2014.
The Minister of State and Prime Minister`s Special Representative has today announced that instead of agreeing a long-term contract for Bristow to base their helicopters elsewhere, he has agreed a one-year deal in which the helicopters are based only temporarily at Lydd Airport. This paves the way for the helicopters to return to Manston once the airport reopens.
He is removing one of the key barriers to the compulsory purchase of Manston: One of the key stumbling blocks to Thanet District Council issuing a Compulsory Purchase Order for Manston was the perceived lack of confidence in the financial indemnities offered by RiverOak - the US firm interested in buying Manston and running it as an airport. Following work by PWC, who were commissioned by the Government to review all the documents that have informed decisions in relation to Manston to date, the Minister has today told the Leader of Thanet District Council on the basis of the independent PWC analysis that he “is satisfied by the indemnity offered by RiverOak to protect the council against the costs of the Compulsory Purchase Order.”
John Hayes said: “I have been paying close attention to the future of Manston Airport throughout my time in the Department for Transport. And I believe the announcements I have made today are huge steps towards securing Manston’s future as a working airport. It is further evidence that it really is possible for Craig Mackinlay and Sir Roger Gale to deliver their five-point plan for Manston. Now, if local people want to see that plan implemented, they have to vote Conservative on May 7th - because while others may shout from the sidelines, the Conservatives have the strength to deliver.”
Craig Mackinlay said: “The good news just keeps on coming. I have wanted to give Manston a long-term future as a working airport for a long time. That’s why, back in 2001, I tried to launch a low-cost airline flying mainly from Manston to Malaga. So I’ve always been committed to the place. With the Conservative five-point plan to save Manston and the great news announced by the minister today, I am more confident than ever that we will succeed.
“The reason we are making such good progress is down to the fact that we have such a strong Conservative team, which includes Sir Roger Gale in North Thanet, important Ministers like John Hayes and the Secretary of State Patrick McLoughlin, together with a team of Conservative councillors, led by Bob Bayford. In contrast, UKIP - who have jumped on the bandwagon with Manston as with so many other issues - don’t have the power to deliver and to date have contributed nothing to this effort whatsoever.
Roger Gale has added:
“The fact that Bristows, a strong commercial organisation, are prepared to demonstrate their faith in Manston and their willingness to give us time to get the airport operational again speaks volumes. Search & Rescue will be coming home to the airfield where it belongs and this should send out a clear message, if nothing else does, that the Government means business and that there is no “Plan B”. I understand that there may be those who will say “It will all change after the election”. Those people are, quite simply, wrong. We are in this for the long haul: the nation needs Manston Airport, Kent – with or without the Leader of KCC – needs Manston Airport and Thanet needs Manston Airport and that is what we are going to have”.
And the Leader of Thanet`s Conservatives, Cllr. Bob Bayford, has said;
“I am satisfied that it is safe to proceed on the basis of the assurances given by Price Waterhouse Coopers via the Minister of State and can therefore say today, without equivocation, that a Conservative controlled council elected on May 7th will take immediate steps to instigate the processes necessary to compulsorily purchase Manston Airport on a back-to-back deal that will enable the airport to return to full operational status as swiftly as possible. Too much time has been lost and too much uncertainty caused already and we need to get on with this”
John Hayes, the Minister of State for Aviation, has today delivered a double boost to the campaign to save Manston Airport. He has announced:
A new deal for search-and-rescue services in the South East of England: Bristow, the company that provides search-and-rescue services on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, had originally planned to base two helicopters at Manston, but the airport closed in May 2014.
The Minister of State and Prime Minister`s Special Representative has today announced that instead of agreeing a long-term contract for Bristow to base their helicopters elsewhere, he has agreed a one-year deal in which the helicopters are based only temporarily at Lydd Airport. This paves the way for the helicopters to return to Manston once the airport reopens.
He is removing one of the key barriers to the compulsory purchase of Manston: One of the key stumbling blocks to Thanet District Council issuing a Compulsory Purchase Order for Manston was the perceived lack of confidence in the financial indemnities offered by RiverOak - the US firm interested in buying Manston and running it as an airport. Following work by PWC, who were commissioned by the Government to review all the documents that have informed decisions in relation to Manston to date, the Minister has today told the Leader of Thanet District Council on the basis of the independent PWC analysis that he “is satisfied by the indemnity offered by RiverOak to protect the council against the costs of the Compulsory Purchase Order.”
John Hayes said: “I have been paying close attention to the future of Manston Airport throughout my time in the Department for Transport. And I believe the announcements I have made today are huge steps towards securing Manston’s future as a working airport. It is further evidence that it really is possible for Craig Mackinlay and Sir Roger Gale to deliver their five-point plan for Manston. Now, if local people want to see that plan implemented, they have to vote Conservative on May 7th - because while others may shout from the sidelines, the Conservatives have the strength to deliver.”
Craig Mackinlay said: “The good news just keeps on coming. I have wanted to give Manston a long-term future as a working airport for a long time. That’s why, back in 2001, I tried to launch a low-cost airline flying mainly from Manston to Malaga. So I’ve always been committed to the place. With the Conservative five-point plan to save Manston and the great news announced by the minister today, I am more confident than ever that we will succeed.
“The reason we are making such good progress is down to the fact that we have such a strong Conservative team, which includes Sir Roger Gale in North Thanet, important Ministers like John Hayes and the Secretary of State Patrick McLoughlin, together with a team of Conservative councillors, led by Bob Bayford. In contrast, UKIP - who have jumped on the bandwagon with Manston as with so many other issues - don’t have the power to deliver and to date have contributed nothing to this effort whatsoever.
Roger Gale has added:
“The fact that Bristows, a strong commercial organisation, are prepared to demonstrate their faith in Manston and their willingness to give us time to get the airport operational again speaks volumes. Search & Rescue will be coming home to the airfield where it belongs and this should send out a clear message, if nothing else does, that the Government means business and that there is no “Plan B”. I understand that there may be those who will say “It will all change after the election”. Those people are, quite simply, wrong. We are in this for the long haul: the nation needs Manston Airport, Kent – with or without the Leader of KCC – needs Manston Airport and Thanet needs Manston Airport and that is what we are going to have”.
And the Leader of Thanet`s Conservatives, Cllr. Bob Bayford, has said;
“I am satisfied that it is safe to proceed on the basis of the assurances given by Price Waterhouse Coopers via the Minister of State and can therefore say today, without equivocation, that a Conservative controlled council elected on May 7th will take immediate steps to instigate the processes necessary to compulsorily purchase Manston Airport on a back-to-back deal that will enable the airport to return to full operational status as swiftly as possible. Too much time has been lost and too much uncertainty caused already and we need to get on with this”
