Owner urged to reverse decision to shut Doncaster Sheffield Airport
A cross-party group of MPs is calling on the owner of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) to reverse its decision to close it down.
Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher has written to John Whittaker, chairman of Peel Holdings, in a letter signed by 17 other MPs – both Conservative and Labour.
Fletcher says he and his colleagues were “deeply dismayed” by Peel’s confirmation that it will go ahead with the controversial closure from the end of next month.
He said he could not understand why Peel had rejected an offer of public money to cover its losses for the next 13 months.
Fletcher said Peel has made a decision which means the loss of 2,700 jobs and a loss of £100m to the local economy. He writes: “That makes no sense and and does not show any degree of corporate responsibility.
“If you do not wish to run this regional international airport, which is strategically important to the nation, then you should allow other buyers to be found who do.
“We therefore ask you to immediately reconsider this matter and to reverse your decision.”
Nick Fletcher
Peel has blamed a “fundamental lack of financial viability” and said it could not accept a public sector grant to cover the costs of an airport that is not viable due to its “lack of adequate forward revenues and high operating costs.”
The business has argued that accepting funds from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to prop up the airport’s operations may only postpone the inevitable for another 13 months.
News that DSA will shut has continued to provoke fierce criticism, with Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones commenting: “Peel’s decision and their wholly reluctant approach throughout the last 10 weeks has been completely uncompromising and unreasonable.
“It is now clear that Peel was never seriously interested in looking at the opportunities offered to them which have been developed at pace and in good faith, preferring to close the airport and seek to develop the land for other uses which could generate greater commercial value for them and their shareholders.”
And Councillor Terry Fox, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “To say this is unwelcome news is an understatement – partners across South Yorkshire have made a massive effort to get Peel to consider alternatives and this is a significant blow, including to the airport employees as the nation faces a cost of living crisis.
“Our region deserves decent transport links, a fair chance to attract inward investment and international connectivity.
“Plus that vital source of income for the region’s workers employed by DSA and its surrounding infrastructure will be lost despite our offer of support to mitigate this risk.”
