Anger after Durham Tees Valley Airport's owners snub meeting (From The Northern Echo)

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Anger after Durham Tees Valley Airport's owners snub meeting

8:00am Thursday 19th January 2012 in Keep The Region Flying Photograph of the Author By David Roberts, Chief Reporter (Darlington)

Durham Tees Valley Airport

THE owners of Durham Tees Valley Airport have been accused of treating a statutory organisation set up to monitor it with contempt.

Members of Durham Tees Valley Airport Consultative Committee reacted angrily after no member of the Peel Holding’s board attended the group’s quarterly meeting yesterday.

Members had a number of questions regarding Peel’s recent announcement that it was looking to sell the airport.

While the airport director, Steve Gill, attended the meeting, at the St George Hotel, at the airport, he was unable to answer the questions or did not have the authority.

Norman Douglas, representing the Campaign for Protection of Rural England, said this was not the first time that Peel had failed to tell members of the consultative committee about its plans.

The decision to implement a passenger surcharge had not been discussed with the committee either, he said. “So far we’ve been treated with contempt by Peel Airports,”

he added. “We’ve either been deliberately kept in the dark or told a pack of untruths.”

Mr Gill said that an email had been sent to all committee members.

However, Mr Douglas said this did not constitute consultation.

Mr Gill added: “The decision taken by Peel was a commercial decision and, as I understand it, an owner of a commercial entity can review its position at any point.

“I understand the points made, I believe as far as I’m concerned, I’ve acted diligently and honestly since coming to this role.”

Members felt that it was time a board member attended the meeting because Mr Gill was unable to answer questions on why Peel decided to sell its share in Durham Tees Valley Airport and how much interest there had been in the sale.

Councillor Mike McBride, from Middleton St George Parish Council, said: “I would love to take it up with the board about what is the switch in the business model as nothing has changed here.”

It was agreed to write to Peel requesting a presence at the committee’s next meeting in April.

A Peel Airports spokesman said: “We understand the concerns of the consultative committee. However, airport director Steve Gill has attended all recent consultative committee meetings continuing to keep members informed.

“In addition, all members were contacted individually and informed of Peel Airports’ decision to sell its shareholding at the time the company made this announcement in December.

“While the search for a buyer continues, there are no further details regarding the process that we can give at this moment over and above the comments we made at the time of the announcement.

“This approach is consistent with that taken with other stakeholders we also talked to in recent weeks.”

Comments(6)

gramps427 says...
10:43am Thu 19 Jan 12

Strange how in the South East all they talk about is how this country does not have enough capacity to have flights to the new economically developed countries, with China and India topping the list. Mayor Boris wants to spend hundreds of millions of £'s destroying the Thames Estuary with a brand new Airport to serve the whole of the country while the British Airport Authorities still want a third runway at Heathrow. Why can't our noble leaders talk with such passion about developing this regions connections to such areas instead of simply bemoaning the loss of Tees Valley's landing slot at Heathrow. Last week Peter Barron half joked about getting Richard Branson to take over Darlington FC, well he does have an airline and a railway company, why not ask his advice on combining the two services from Tees Valley Airport. Then perhaps our businessmen & women who need to travel could start out from here instead of Heathrow?