Owner of Durham Tees Valley Airport responds to council criticisms (From The Northern Echo)

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Owner of Durham Tees Valley Airport responds to council criticisms

8:40am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Traffic & Transport News Photograph of the Author By Joe Willis, Regional chief reporter

Decision due in days

THE owners of Durham Tees Valley (DTV) Airport last night rejected claims from local councils that they had reneged on investment pledges.

As the region awaits the company’s decision on the future of the airport, Peel Airports Ltd said it had spent about £25m on DTV since acquiring the majority shareholding in 2003.

The firm also denied it had kept local stakeholders in the dark over its plans, saying it had provided regular updates.

Last week, Stockton Borough Council issued a strongly-worded statement expressing the authority’s “deep disappointment” that Peel had put the airport up for sale when, 18 months earlier, the firm was planning to invest in the business.

The council’s deputy leader, Councillor Jim Beall, said the council shared the views of many local businesses and residents who thought that no significant developments at the airport had been made since then.

Peel announced that it was to sell its shares in DTV and the company said yesterday it remained focused on trying to find a buyer.

A spokesman said: “This process continues and it remains business as usual at the airport.

“Contrary to some recent comments, since acquiring the majority shareholding in 2003, Peel Airports has invested approximately £25m.

“In addition, regular updates regarding the business have been provided to senior representatives of a number of key local stakeholders.”

Peel said the airport board continues to be kept fully briefed on the sale process at a weekly board meeting attended by all six local authorities which hold shares.

“An announcement will be made once this process has been completed. Until then, Peel Airports Limited is unable to provide further comment on the sale process,” the spokesman said.

According to sources, Peel is expected to make a decision within days on whether to continue offering the business for sale or to call in administrators.

Alternatively, Peel Airports may try to buy back its shares from Vancouver Airport Services, putting it back in full control.

Comments(8)

johnny_p says...
9:44am Tue 31 Jan 12

Oh yes. Really. What exactly have they spent "about £25 million pounds" on? That's an awful lot of money. That much money would build about one hundred houses. Was it on the cheap plastic cladding on the front of the building? The huge security fence that stops passengers getting access to the place? Or the machines that charge people £6 to use the place. Perhaps it was to train the security staff to be as rude and obnoxious to passengers (customers) as possible?

What an odious, deceitful incompetent bunch. You should be held responsible for the severe damage you've done to the North-East's links to the rest of the World, and how we're perceived by overseas travellers visiting the region. Beyond pathetic.