Newquay airport - closure brings calls for resignations

6:26pm Monday 1st December 2008

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Calls have been made for a full inquiry into what led to the chaos and eventual closure until December 20 of Newquay Airport.

The airport, a lifeline for thousands of Cornish businesses and tourists closed on Monday because the owners Cornwall county council cannot operate the air traffic control until later this month.

The RAF, which handled the facility for the civilian part of the airfield, has pulled out of what is known as RAF St Mawgan.

Caroline Righton, a former journalist and now a prospective parliamentary candidate for Newquay said: “An airport having to close over the lack of a licence is completely unacceptable. It is the county council’s responsibility to run this airport and ensure that they are up to code and that the licence is kept. There seems to be a shocking and embarrassing combination of incompetence and arrogance from the councillors responsible for ensuring the transfer from MOD responsibility was effected efficiently.”

She and other critics say the county council “must have known there were potential problems,” and had left things until the last minute. Now passengers using the airport in the run-up to Christmas would be faced with bus journeys to other airports.

Ryanair, one of the main operators into and out of the airport has branded members of the county council as little more than “Keystone Cops”. They have abandoned flights until the New Year.

Leading local councillors have called on county councillor Andrew Mitchell, who is responsible for the airport to resign.

“This is outrageous incompetence and the portfolio holder in charge, Andrew Mitchell, should accept responsibility and resign,” said Patrick Lambshead . “This does not bode well for One Cornwall governing the whole county.”

The county council has known for some years they were taking over the airport from the RAF and would have to obtain a licence to operate.

“The council recognised the importance the airport has to the residents and businesses in Cornwall and so took on the unique challenge of the transition of RAF St. Mawgan”, said Mr Mitchell. “We were the only group willing to take on the challenge and we did it for the long-term benefits which the connectivity to the rest of the UK and Europe would bring to the Cornish economy.

“It is unfortunate that we have stumbled at this last hurdle.”

A new licence will hopefully be issued in time for December 19 when the airport should re-open.

On Monday this week, contingency plans were put in place by the airlines. The airport terminal remains open accepting passengers booking in for flights.

All Air West flights will be operating but to and from Plymouth. Passengers can either make their own way to Plymouth or go to Newquay and be bussed to Plymouth. Same arrangements on return journeys.

Skybus flights will be from Land’s End with buses to and from Newquay for those who find it easier than making their own way to Land’s End. Passengers have to contact Skybus directly on 01736 334224.

Ryanair passengers travelling to or from Spain will be offered to fly to/from Bristol or Bournemouth depending on their destination and will be offered surface transfer to/from Newquay.

Passengers flying to and from London will be offered the chance to switch to an Air Southwest flight if capacity on the relevant flight is available. This has to be arranged through Newquay Cornwall Airport to rebook.

A passenger information hotline has been opened at 0044-1872- 322-002 and all passenger queries should be addressed directly to this number or to Mr Chris Cain, Newquay Cornwall Airport at 0044-1872-322000.