YOUR article regarding a proposed airport business park (Echo, Mar 20) contained a reference to "the fastgrowing Durham Tees Valley Airport".

Figures recently released by the Civil Aviation Authority indicate that DTVA experienced the largest decline in passenger numbers of any UK airport in 2007. They were down 19 per cent compared to 2006.

The recent decision by Aviance UK to close its aircraft and passenger handling operation there has resulted in a number of employees being made redundant.

For the first time in decades there is now only one ground handling company operating at DTVA.

Given that stark (and, I believe, hitherto unreported) reality, what assurances can the backers of this project give that the demand actually exists for this "airportrelated"

business development?

Unless they can prove that this demand exists then this is nothing more than a cynical attempt by the landowners to maximise the value of their investment by building just another business park in an unsustainable location.

Martin Chapple, Darlington