The post you are reporting:
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