A NORTH EAST security firm has seen a three-year contract with Teesside Airport scrapped as the airport looks to "save money."

Close Protection Security said it had received a phone call terminating the contract because the airport "couldn't afford it," just four months after agreeing the term.

The Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has since defended the decision to scrap the Middlesbrough-based firm, saying it is now in a situation to manage security "in-house."

Glenn Bartlett, the managing director of Close Protection Security hit out at the decision claiming he had agreed a rate which was discounted with the airport in March.

Mr Bartlett said he had been left "disappointed" in the way the conclusion of the contract had been handled, saying local businesses should be a "priority" following the pandemic.

The Northern Echo:

On social media, Mr Bartlett hit out at the decision, raising concerns over the reasons given for the termination, highlighting the amount of money spent in recent months.

He said: "I agreed a new three-year contract with Teesside airport, that was three years job security for my team at the airport who have done an amazing job since we have secured the premises, four months later this is terminated via a phone call, because the airport can’t afford it.

"Now daily I see posts on how well the airport is doing and it’s just had millions of pounds spent on the refurbishment inside the terminal."

The airport recently saw a multi-million pound refurbishment completed, which Mr Houchen claimed was needed in order to "attract" more customers, airlines and bring the airport back into profit.

The Northern Echo:

Defending the decision, Mr Houchen said that as a result of growing the team over the past six months, it had managed to bring in more services in-house.

In a statement, he said: “We are always looking at how we can save money as we seek to turn the airport round and make it profitable again, protecting the hundreds of jobs reliant on the airport.

“We have grown the airport team by more than 30 in the past six months, to manage the increased operations and bring more services in-house.

"We are now in a situation where the operations team can deliver the same level of security across the site saving £100,000 per year that can be reinvested back into the airport."

“We would like to thank Glenn and his team for the services they have provided at the airport for the past few years and wish them well for the future.” 

This comes as private operator, Esken this week announced it would be withdrawing from the airport, handing back its 25 percent stake.

Esken, formerly known as Stobart Group, provided a statement on Tuesday saying that given "positive developments" in the past year, it "no longer required" its support.

Read more: Labour hits back after Esken withdraws from Teesside Airport

Labour figures on Teesside accused Esken of "jumping ship," just two years into a ten-year plan they were brought in to implement.

Labour MP for Stockton North, Alex Cunningham branded the announcement as "disappointing," highlighting previous suggestions they would make the airport "viable."

He said: " “It’s disappointing to see Stobart jump just ship two years into a ten-year plan when they briefed the Combined Authority and others about their successes elsewhere, and how they’d make Teesside not just viable, but a major airport in its own right. 

“This decision also poses the questions: why and when did they decide this, and did the Mayor know of Stobart’s plan to abandon Teesside Airport before the May election and his request for a further £10m to support it.

“Stobart is leaving local taxpayers to shoulder the costs.  I just hope the Mayor isn’t going to spend even more of our people’s money on this project when our communities still suffer from a totally inadequate public transport system."

Meanwhile, the Labour Councillor for South Bank, Sue Jeffrey raised concerns over Esken's decision to withdraw when it receives a fee for operating the airport.

In response, Mr Houchen accused the Labour Party of praying at "every turn" for the airport to fail as he hit back. 

He said: “I really don’t understand why the Labour Party pray at every turn for our airport to fail.

"Let’s not forget, it was the Labour Party who abandoned our airport to Peel who wanted to turn it into a housing estate and sat by while they did it.

"Even going so far as to give Peel permission to build 350 houses on the airport that would have seen it close. 

"It’s why I have put protections in place so that if Labour ever get back into power they can’t sell off our airport again without a public referendum.

Mr Houchen said that the announcement made by Esken had "zero impact or cost" to the airport.

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