Sheffield Airport To Close - 22nd April 08
 

Just been informed that Sheffield City Airport is to close on 22nd April. Hell of shock as we had previously been told 2-3 years before we would have to think about moving our group aircraft, now we have 90 days.

I feel even more sorry for all the staff there connected with the airport who apparently were given letters last night. Fantastic people, always friendly and willing to give a hand outside of their job description! I hope they find alternative employment quickly.

Our group is getting together to discuss what to do, but doubt there is any way we can challenge Peel. I understand it was looked at previously but they have it pretty well stiched up - As well as us!!!!!

Good 'ole Sheffield City Council & Peel Holdings!

J.

Very sad news.

Very very sad

Peel Holdings also own Durham Tees Valley or as we prefer the name Teesside International Airport.

How long before it becomes a housing estate?

Julian,
the way around this thorny problem is........ to buy the whole site yourself.

It's a well known fact that Peel only took on responsibility for the site with the eventual aim of developing Finningly, Peel also made no secret of the fact that as soon as Finningly was up and running commercially they would dispose of Sheffiled.

Most of the money for the development of the airport in it's infancy came from Budge Mining (around 10%) and the EEC (around 89%), the rate payers of Sheffield barely contributed anything through the local authority, other than relatively insignificant sums via the Regional Development Agency.

After that, Peel put in around £8m to keep the place going, so it's only right that they should have a return on their investment for providing the community with a facility that the community never paid for.
I accept that you and your colleagues pay to be based there, but it's no different from renting a commercial premesis, once the landlord serves notice, you are obliged to go and your opinion counts for little unless you are prepared to make a vaible commercial proposition.

The other thing you should consider is, that the airport is built on a slag heap, and I don't know if many people are aware but it only ever had a fixed life span because of that, many of the existing buildings regularly show signs of subsidence and the runway probably only has a few years left in it.

As an industrial estate, it has a future and would be a far greater boost to the local economy than the airport ever was, the subsidence problems wouldn't be too much of a factor - as an airfield it has no commercial future, doesn't serve the local community's needs at all and never will.

Indeed and whilst we cant begrudge a business for making money dont forget that they actually purchased the site for £1. So the £8m they have since put in has actually turned out to be a very cheap investment (as long as dont call shortening the runway an 'investment').

Peel also own Doncaster and obviously dont see the point of owning 2 airports close and of course its competition for Doncaster. Wasn't there also talk about widening the airspace around Doncaster? Maybe this is another way them achieve this? (putting my cynical hat on)

I agree, any business park will serve a community more than a small airport in terms of jobs, etc, however I would not agree that it didnt serve the community at all.

As regards the condition of the buildings and subsidence, I am no surveying expert but all the buildings round there are either brand new or only a few years only. The airport building itself is very modern and showing no signs degreneration.

I think the main thing is the speed at which it has suddenly been decide to shut having been informed late last year that we had a further 2-3 years before we would have to think about moving. I am sure the staff are in more shock that we are as we are only tennants, as you say, for them their livelyhood has just vanished!

I would love to purchase it myself but unfortunately just checked my overdraft limit and even once I have been paid I think I may be just a bit short of funds :}

J.

There is nothing on their website. As a customer nobody has served me with a notice to quit.

Is the S.Yorks Police ASU to relocate?

Will it be closed completely or run as a heliport as was a previous plan?

For information only - Peel only became involved in Sheffield in 2002, 5 years after in opened.

The site was an opencast mining site before, and I believe there were strict guidlines on the size of the materials used to fill the site to prevent subsidence.

As for the tax payers - think they bought Europa Link, thats all.

A real shame and a sad story. I remember the airport being opened and being excited about it as Netherthorpe was always a bit too far away from where I am on the west of Sheffield, the downer then was that there were no single-engined planes allowed.

Then commercial flights stopped but SEPs were allowed so I got my PPL there, fulfilling a long-held ambition.

Now it's to close leaving Sheffield with no nearby general aviation facility once again. A shame for the city and for GA in the UK, particularly as it seems hardly a week goes by before another "airfield under threat" warning emerges.

Can't get excited about a business park. Sheffield and the M1/M18 area has acres and acres of flat brownfield land for business parks.

Very sad. I had a good year instructing there, and was under the impression helicopters were going to be able to operate there for quite a while. And even after I left, I used to drop in for coffee and to chat to old friends. I'll miss that. :(

I think it's sad when ANY airfield closes.

Drat...
 

...does anybody know the implication for Sheffield City Flying School?

I think this is a great loss.

It's a shame when any airfield closes, but it will keep on happening and we have to get used to it.

As long as people moan about landing fees and the permit types keep pushing us towards farm strips, fuel prices rise and GA is not looked on as a utility but rather a rich mans sport the airfields are never going to be able to generate the revenue to be viable.

HR, As I understand it so far only staff connected with the airfield, i.e. reception, firestation,etc have been given their notice, obviously businesses renting office space are staying. Obviously SCFS would be the exception to this as without an airfield they cant operate!

Our group Chairman gave me the news and he recieved it from one of the staff, I can only assume our notice will be in the post.

J.

Yet again the mighty Peel strike again.

For a company with a thriving aviation business it would appear that they are only interested in the commercial side of things. Liverpool Ringo Starr and Doncaster Fryar Tuck are well invested. But at the other end, Barton is pretty much unuseable to GA unless you are rich AND like being ripped off. Sheffield is closing. How much more are this company going to be allowed to ride rough shod over any airfield that they like??

For me I am now left with a huge dilemma. From where I live in Stockport what are my options. Well I can go and get ripped off at Barton, pay with arms and legs at Manchester, or travel to Liverpool, where I began my training and left due to escalating prices and for other reasons. Lets face it where is there to go from Liverpool other than Sleap or Caernarfon?? So where do I base myself now. Don't like PFA types (aircraft not the people) don't like grass, especially at this time of the year. Or do I just sit back and let my licence lapse, as there is nowhere practical for me to fly from anymore. EGSY was about as far as I wanted to travel!

Thanks Peel, thanks a lot!!!

So thats Shefield down, now lets have another look at that Barton place.....

What is this 'Barton' place that you are talking about?

I only know of City Airport Manchester... :E



;)



Edited to add: Here's a bit more about Peel's published plans for EGCB.

I am being selfish of course...
 

...there are people out of work as a result of this, not just a bit of a further drive for my weekend jollies. It could certainly be worse!

Thoughts with those guys...