GIVEN that large scale nationalisation of utilities is now official Labour Party policy, I find it curious that some Labour local council leaders have been openly sceptical about Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen's plan to take our local airport back into public ownership.

Surely they must be aware that, for some time now, Peel Group, which became the airport's majority shareholder in 2003, has essentially been making almost no effort to promote the business?

In this situation it is hardly surprising the airport is running at a loss.

Consider the fact that, as of the beginning of this week, the "Latest News" section of the Durham Tees Valley Airport website hasn't been updated since March 28, 2018.

Similarly, the most recent entry on the airport's Twitter feed is dated July 25, 2018. The most recent post on its Facebook page is dated July 18, 2018.

One can only conclude that Peel Group has either been utterly incompetent in promoting the airport, or its goal was simply to run it down and build houses on the site.

Either way, it's clearly time for someone else to be given the chance to run our airport. Ben Houchen's plan to take it back into public ownership is consistent with national Labour Party policy, and the money to re-purchase it will be coming from central government.

Local people will reap the benefits of having a successful local airport, with zero impact on their council tax bills.

The upcoming decision of the five Tees Valley Labour local council leaders on whether to approve the deal is a valuable opportunity for them to show us whose interests they really serve.

Paul Anthony Taylor, Darlington.