MEMBERS of the public have gathered for a second time to have their say on the future of Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA).

The second in a series of public consultation sessions about a masterplan for the airport, which includes plans to build up to 400 houses, took place in the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington.

Officials say the money generated by the sale would be used to pay for nine additional hangars, as well as 9,600sq metres of office space and industrial units covering 16,820sq metres to expand the Northside Employment Park.

Although the event was more low-key than a well-attended consultation session held at the airport’s St George’s Hotel last week, airport bosses said they were pleased at the level of response to the proposals so far.

Among the people at the event was Linda Clark, who has lived close to the airport for more than 40 years.

She said: “I’m very interested about lots of different parts of the plan. There’s good and bad in all of it.

“It’s good because it’s bringing jobs to the airport and making it a bit more viable. We are concerned about noise if there’s going to be heavy industry and work going on 24 hours a day.”

Mr Trimingham, of Turley Associates, the planning consultant on the scheme, said the event has seen a steady stream of people taking part.

He added: “There’s a lot of interest in the airport and we are grateful for people coming here today. We are pleased to talk to anyone that is interested in it about the position that we are in and what the masterplan proposes.”

Two further consultation sessions are planned at Stockton Central Library on Friday, December 6, between 8.30am and 6pm, and at Middlesbrough Teaching and Learning Centre on December 12 between 11am and 4pm.