Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I went over to the Marlowe Academy at Ramsgate yesterday afternoon as there was a meeting to advise the public on how far they had got in trying to save Manston as an airport and take questions from the auidience.
It was pretty well attended and supported and was from 3pm to 6. It more or less finished just before 5.30.
Save Manston Airport has good strong cross-party support, but (to me) the odd thing is that the Labour leader of Thanet DC supports Manston, but doesn't support night-flights.
There was a lot of discussion on night-flights and it was explained that it doesn't mean that flights will go on all night long, but airlines must be given the flexilbilty, or they simply won't come; almost everyone in the audience supported another referendum on night-flights and re-educating the residents around there of what is really meant by night-flights.
Thanet District Council have not yet completed their Local Development Plan/Framework and it seems to me that this may be where they have the most chance - if it is written into their Plan that Manston MUST stay an airport, then Anne Gloag cannot make millions from housing. I think they may need to speed that up though.
The group is trying to do a CPO, but need a partner invester and the one who seems to be the likely partner, at the moment, is River Oak who have expressed strong support and a willingness to work together.
A Manston Airport Viability Study has been undertaken, but not yet completed; when it is, it will help the CPO process and gain support.
KCC's Paul Carter has now come out in total support and will help where he can - once that Viability Study is complete and of course shows that it can be a success.
There are already meetings going on with various organisations to determine whether they will come (in some cases, come back) to Manston when it is back open. These include a centre for aircraft break-up/recycling, aircraft engineering centre, pilot training, improving and increasing freight flights and talking to commercial airlines, but again, any airline will need that flexibility of night-flights.
No application for dismantling the airport buildings/airfield runway has been received, so it can't be broken up, but all this work must be done as expeditiously as possible, as all airports needs maintenance, so it could deteriorate quite quickly if left as it is.
All power to their elbow.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Not much time left to do anything.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I've asked them if that asset auction is still going ahead and there's nothing they can do to stop it. They're all moveable objects, so I doubt it will mean not much time to do ANYTHING.
Much activity is still going on.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
I doubt that Thanet district council are that interested in the airport, their councillors seem more set on playing party politics to what they hope is a gullible public.
a lot of huffing and puffing is going on from the parties locally in order to curry favour with the public, I exclude Laura Sandys as she is not standing next May.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Whatever the shenanigans of TDC Councillors Howard, I had the strong impression that everyone is very serious about trying to keep Manston as an airport.
I hope they are serious and I hope they are successful.
Roger
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I hope not but I think it is all to late to save the airport.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I know there's only been a couple of posters, but neither are particularly postive about Manston.
I thought there would have been more positivity about it. Does living in Dover make people more cynical or more downbeat ? After the great music festival, I know there some really positive people here; maybe people here simply don't care about Manston.
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I've just received this update on Manston:
"Manston Airport could yet be resurrected, following news that an official offer has been made to support Thanet District Council in a Compulsory Purchase Order bid.
The airport has been shut for two months, following its closure by Ann Gloag.
Ms Gloag bought the site in October 2013 for £1, amid promises to keep it running for years.
This turned out to be a false promise, and after running the business at a reported loss of £12,000 a day, she closed it several months later, incurring around 150 job losses, and the anger of local campaigners.
Ms Gloag had said she wanted to sell the airport, but turned down three offers, the highest of which was said to be in the region of £7 million.
The offers came from American investment company RiverOak.
Following Ms Gloag's refusal to sell, Thanet District Council (TDC) decided to consider serving a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on the site, which would mean that Ms Gloag would have to give control of the site over to TDC in return for financial compensation.
The council stressed that they would need a partner to provide financial backing, as they could not afford the CPO alone.
Now RiverOak have revealed to the KoS that they have written to Thanet District Council.
The formal letter proposes that RiverOak would enter into an indemnity agreement whereby they would cover the legal costs and other financial exposures, including the cost of acquiring the airport.
RiverOak also outlined their business case, and how they propose to run the airport in terms of cargo freight, engineering work and passenger flights.
The letter went into detail about how RiverOak would reopen the airport (it would need a new license) after the CPO goes through. RiverOak said they see no reason not to enter into the agreement, and their only concern is that the process is held up because of bureaucracy.
They have requested that the council responds to their letter as soon as possible.
Richard Nicholson, deputy leader of TDC said: "We have received a letter, we are looking at the content of it and will be discussing it at a future stage.
"It is an interesting letter but maybe a bit early, as we still have to discuss the next stage of going through with the CPO.
After that we will possibly be looking to see who is interesting in taking this further".
"We have a report coming out on Thursday which discusses the viability of the airport. We are very confident that the site will remain as an airport."
Quite positive news I thought.
Roger
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Thanks for the information Roger, I hope that the CPO goes through to the next stage, personally I cannot see why the powers that be are not pushing on with it
I've just got back from Farnborough International Airport, having worked there for the last seven weeks for the International Airshow. It was Great to see many of the aircraft, military and civilian, showing what they can do
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Barry. I hope the next stage and all the stages go through and they are successful in getting Manston re-opened.
Sorry about the double post above.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Interesting stuff Roger, what I don't understand is why TDC need a viability report.
River Oak must have commissioned their own before they made the offer to purchase.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
They are not in an arrangement with River Oak & need an independent report to justify the process. They may also have to talk to other groups to go into partnership & that will require EU tendering requirements. A long hard process to get to an inquiry.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
They are not in an arrangement with River Oak & need an independent report to justify the process. They may also have to talk to other groups to go into partnership & that will require EU tendering requirements. A long hard process to get to an inquiry.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Thanks Paul. Hopefully not too long a process.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Interesting thread which has me thinking: which is the more inept, TDC or DDC?
The one thing they have in common is being under Tory control.
Gratifying that representatives of DDC are busying themselves elsewhere when they should be concentrating on their own patch. Who was it that fiddled while Rome burned?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Manston airport is an important part of the East Kent economy not just Thanet.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Nonsense, when it comes to the economy of Dover and District Manston is neither here nor there. Pure diversionary tactics from DDC when they should concentrate on their own district.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Whilst on the subject of nonsense Thanet District Council is run by the reds with sort from various independents.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Yes, my bad, it seems incompetence is not exclusive to the tories.
