Mayor fears airport owner is ‘undermining confidence’ in its viability
South Yorkshire’s Mayor has sharply criticised Peel Group, the owner of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), suggesting the group has no interest in supporting efforts to try to keep the airport open.
DSA and the Peel Group have launched a consultation on the future of the site, with Peel extending the consultation period to September 16.
But earlier this week, Peel indicated it was pessimistic about prospects for keeping the airport going, complaining there is a “lack of any tangible proposals” for its future.
An unimpressed Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, has today hit back, saying: “I expect companies with whom we are working in partnership to act as responsible stakeholders in our community.
“In my view, announcing a review of DSA with less than 24 hours’ notice, creating an artificially short timetable for that review, remaining unclear about future intentions for DSA and wilfully draining the confidence of employees and investors, is not the behaviour of a responsible partner.
Oliver Coppard
“I am joined in that opinion by Doncaster Council, Doncaster’s local MPs, the Minister for Aviation, the front runner to be our next Prime Minister, and thousands upon thousands of people from across the communities of South Yorkshire and beyond.”
Coppard added that Peel has remained unclear about its intentions for DSA, while expecting partners to put forward ideas instead.
He said as the owners of DSA, it is Peel’s responsibility to make clear the options it would be prepared to consider – including whether it would be prepared to explore options for the airport’s sale.
Coppard said: “I am increasingly concerned they [Peel] are now seeking to undermine confidence in the airport as a pretence for its closure, limiting commercial interest in a possible sale, all with a view to forcing a change of use and attempting to open up the site to commercial land development.”
He said a thriving, commercially-led Doncaster Sheffield Airport is a central part of the economic strategy for Gateway East, Doncaster and South Yorkshire.
“I continue to call on Peel to change their approach, extend the review period and work with us in collaboration to safeguard the future of DSA,” he said.
TheBusinessDesk.com has contacted Peel Group for comment.
