Plymouth City Airport: Countdown to the debate
In the run-up to next week’s big council debate over the future of Plymouth City Airport, The Herald starts a series of articles examining all sides of the issue. Today: Should it stay or should it go?
A petition calling for state ownership of Plymouth Airport will be debated by councillors next Monday, writes Keith Rossiter.
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Neill Mitchell
The airport was closed last December by the operator, Sutton Harbour Holdings.
The company has a 150-year lease on the land and has put forward a masterplan to build homes, shops and businesses on the site.
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Meanwhile, a company set up by the founders of the pressure group Viable says it hopes to acquire the land and restart air services from the city.
KEEP IT: Jed Griffiths
Jed Griffiths, a Plymothian and former president of the Royal Town Planning Institute, urges the city to keep its airport.
PLYMOUTH is at a crossroads in its history.
When I began my planning career at Plymouth City Council in the late 1960s there was so much optimism about the future of the city and its place in the regional and national economy.
In more recent times it has been marginalised, not only because of the economic downturn, but also because of a fixation by the Government on London and the South East.
The abandonment of regional planning by the coalition has meant that the role of regional airports has been minimalised in the national airports debate, which is concentrated on London.
I agree with Cllr Tudor Evans that the provision of an airport in Plymouth is a strategic planning issue.
In my view it is vital to the future economy of the city.
With the proposals put forward by the Viable group, with an extended runway, there would be enhanced linkages between Plymouth and London, the rest of the UK, and – more importantly – European destinations.
If Viable is successful their development could deliver the policy set out in the council’s core strategy and help to maintain and strengthen Plymouth’s place in the South West economy.
In a tough economic climate, Plymouth must fight its corner vigorously.
If the airport is removed, it is gone for ever – and with it a building block for the city’s regeneration.
REDEVELOP IT: Neill Mitchell
Neill Mitchell, veteran independent transport analyst, says Plymouth should look east.
FRANKLY, I think the airport has long been a lost cause, notably ever since the failure of the parliamentary initiative in respect of Harrowbeer back in the 1960s.
Exeter International has now grown beyond all expectation (to Plymouth’s benefit) and should next modify its Companies House registered name of “Exeter & Devon Airport Ltd” to embrace its full stakeholder market catchment as “Devon International Airport”.
It was, after all, the Devon County ratepayers who subsidised its survival for 50 years, prior to privatisation.
In my opinion, there are only three circumstances which would empower Plymouth City Airport to be “viable”:
1. Ring fencing of landing slots on the proposed Runway 3 at Heathrow exclusively for regional air services. (We have allies in other distant regions pushing for this)
2. Designation of new landing slots at the proposed “Boris Island” re-located London international airport for regional air services.
3. Further development in the USA (for civil aviation application) of the pathfinder “Osprey” tilt-rotor vertical take-off and landing aircraft. This is perhaps still years or more from full civil airworthiness certification.
Otherwise, we should push hard for the renaming of “Devon International Airport” (despite the outright opposition which would result from the City of Exeter lobby.
TOMORROW: The view from Viable – the company that wants to reopen the airport
Comments
by Dunthiel
Thursday, September 20 2012, 9:53AM
“@JonnyGlenholt
Incorrect, those are the generic figures for MTOW - Maximum Take Off Weight. Viable worked with Embraer to produce specific and accurate figures for an extended runway at Plymouth, which identified that the ERJ family could operate safely with a good range, hence opening up fast and direct flights to Europe.”
by ceebeeone
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 10:35AM
“Aren't SHH rich enough already?”
by JonnyGlenholt
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 10:18AM
“CharlieDodd, the Embraer ERJ series of planes need around 1400 metres at least to take off. The runway, even extended, is too short.”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:32PM
“Just to throw another factor into the mix-
Modern mini-jet airliners such as the Embraer series have short takeoff/landing capabilities and could easily use the existing length of Plymouth airport runway without the need for an extension.
They can also touch 500mph meaning virtually anywhere in Europe could be reached in less than 4 hours.
The Americans have got it right-
"The most important main street in any community is its airport runway"- US Airports and Pilots Association”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:27PM
“According to this WIKI excerpt, Plymouth Airport was a goldmine just 3 years ago-
"In 2009, 157,933 passengers passed through the airport, a sharp increase of 34.0% on the 2008 total of 117,823 making Plymouth one of the only UK airports experiencing significant growth during the period.
However, following the withdrawal of London flights in early 2011, the airport's owners said passenger totals had fallen to fewer than 100 a day.
The airport closed and ceased all operations on 23rd December 2011."
So the question must be asked why did the labour council (who are supposed to work for its citizens) sign away our airport to SHH?”
by b_mused
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 8:48PM
“So - Jed Griffiths, an experienced town planner, recognises that Plymouth needs an airport while veteran independent transport analyst (could be anything from a bus inspector or MoT tester?) Neill Mitchell has got his facts wrong and would like the land to be redeveloped.
One of the key needs is good connections to London (Viable are sensibly suggesting London City) but there are no flights from Exeter to London.
One thing that Plymouth doesn't need is a large development of houses and supermarkets on an overcrowded road without the new industrial and commercial jobs to go with it.
I can't understand why any local should be opposed to the Viable proposal unless they live near The George or have shares in SHH.”
by thornyeagle1
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 7:27PM
“If we bow down and do what Neil Mitchell and SHH want to do. Will simply rip the heart out of this great city and leave it totally dependant on road and rail services. Which not only is narrow minded, but the direct path to gloom and doom. Thus will leave Plymouth with NO real development ability based on another piece of land being covered with brick and concrete. Exactly how would that benifit the economy of Plymouth? Those people would need jobs, there would be more need for more schools, bigger hospitals, more roads. In fact MORE demands on our already stretched resources. Whereas our airport is already in place. It can be modernised more cheaply than doing secret deals for building another housing estate for outsiders more than likely. It WILL bring prosperity back to our city. By opening more avenues to europe and else where which obviously would be an attraction to busineses to invest in Plymouth. So by having our own airport would have more advantages than not. It certainly helps when there is a more dependable person at the helm than has been demonstrated in the past by SHH. Whereas as the only interest SHH really had if thery're honest was to develop the airport land in the first place. Plymouth needs an airport to develop its survival NOT more short term benifit homes. If the airport goes, then Plymouth may as well turn its lights off and disappear into the abyss. I have one question to ask. With Plymouth having its own airport. Where would one think those forgotten people in CORNWALL prefare to fly from? Bristol ? Newquay ? Exeter ? Or Plymouth? It's really very simples, especially if OUR airport was given a REAL opportunity to establish itself and prove its worth with Viable. Whereas with SHH...it will only receive the kiss of death for a hansome profit in GREED. You decide ladies and Gents.”
by MountainPass
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 4:36PM
“So Neill Mitchell is the best they could muster as an opposing view point? Says it all, really.
What he knows about the airport and Plymouth's connectivity issues/solutions can be written in quite large letters on the back of a postage stamp. His own ideas (published previously in the Herald, I believe) are fantastical and so far removed from reality that I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. I think it is wise to take what he says with a considerable pinch of salt - take his third point as an example: plans for a civil variant of this aircraft exist only in his imagination.”
by AnneTeak
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 1:48PM
“We already know the outcome. SHH will build houses on the site and make loads of money. This was their plan when they "leased" the airport.
Their plans for the second phase were shown on this site last Friday morning, then hastily withdrawn by the Herald. Did anyone else see them?”
by JonnyGlenholt
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 10:05AM
“Saltash2010. I do hope you aren't one of the people who signed the petition without reading it. The exact wording on the petition is:
"Plymouth City Airport is a vital hub for the South West, but it is due to close, like so many other UK airports, to satisfy property developers. We need flexibility as well as investment in our transport infrastructure. Regional airports offer much greater flexibility than trains for both domestic and international travel. With investment and the right management, Plymouth City Airport would be profitable. The state should take ownership. "”