Lend your support
AS SOME of you may know, because of the petition which so many of you signed in respect of saving the airport, the council has had to discuss this issue at 2pm on Monday, September 24, at the council chamber. There is a public gallery for those who wish to attend.
I would like to say to the many thousands of you who signed the petition that it would be most helpful if as many of you as possible who can spare the time could go along and give Viable the support they need.
We need to send as strong a message as possible to Tudor Evans and his council that we will not accept no for an answer, and that we want something done about the appalling lease arrangement which he and his council signed in 2000. By that I mean bringing the land back into public ownership.
The council is quite happy to give millions to the Theatre Royal, quite happy to give many more millions to the Life Centre, and quite happy to think about giving further millions for the redevelopment of the Pavilions and surrounding area – so why is it that when it comes to the airport, stiff provisos and conditions are put in place, probably to deter prospective bidders, while at the same time the above have no such conditions put in place which could be a possible drain on the public purse for years to come? Double standards, Tudor? You bet.
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We, the public, are slowly but surely winning this argument; not so long ago councillors would not even discuss it, but through the support of The Herald things are beginning to turn and take shape.
So it's vitally important that we as the people of this city continue to put pressure upon the council to give every assistance to Viable in reaching their aims, and with your support we can do that.
So go along to the Council House on Monday and give your support. If you can't get into the public gallery, wait outside and make as much noise as possible so they can hear you inside.
BILL SNOW
Hartley
Comments
by Magrathea2011
Sunday, September 23 2012, 3:22PM
“Wouldn't it be more pragmatic to 'wait and see' and give Viable a chance - even if it is only to call their bluff if indeed their ideas arent any good in reality. What is the problem in treating them as a credible organisation? Why wont' SHG even negotiate with them?
I would suggest to the SHG and PCC that Viable be given all the support to prove that the airport is 'viable' or not, even say give them a 10 year sub lease to allow them to prove it - it wont cost the population in and around Plymouth a penny to allow it to proceed, but of course it will thwart SHH's short term profiteering and the Council's windfall from that redevelopment!
If the airport still proves unviable, then what has (in the end) PCC or SHG lost - at worst a 10 year delay in their plans when also (maybe) by then it will be clearer whether the A38 and rail link will have moved up on the agenda - even a commitment to improve them, the economic situation may have improved and all the other housing etc developments currently in the pipeline will have proved whether the airport needs to be redeveloped as well!
Nothing will ever be perfect, but why the rush to put beyond use the bit of land that is the airport?”
by Matt2112
Sunday, September 23 2012, 11:23AM
“1. Investing in Exeter saves businessmen 45 minutes of travel.
2. No moreso than rail travel. We don't have those fancy electric trains down here, just stinking diesel ones.
3. The aviation industry disagrees.”
by Rick_OShay
Sunday, September 23 2012, 9:46AM
“@Matt 318008
Everyone knows that the airport is not a public attraction and is different to the theatre, Life Centre etc. For a start they are well used whereas the Jannerdrome was not.
Having said that, there are similarities between the theatre and airport – both enjoy a good pantomime with lots of counter-claims in the style of "yes he is, no he isn't"..
And there are three very good reasons to object to the airport;
1. There is an airport 45 minutes up the road
2. Airports are environmentally unfriendly
3. The jannerdrome is in the middle of a residential area and thus not fit for purpose.
Rick O'Shay
Zog”
by Matt2112
Sunday, September 23 2012, 9:31AM
“And how would it adversely affect you if someone were to give it a try?”
by blogtodi
Sunday, September 23 2012, 9:06AM
“We're not losing the airport, Matt2112, we've lost it. I don't think it will be back. There's too much money involved in redevelopment of the site to allow the unprofitable airport to rise from the ashes.”
by Matt2112
Sunday, September 23 2012, 8:07AM
“What many of you against the airport fail to grasp is that the airport is it not, at its core, a public attraction. It will never be a theatre royal or a life centre or a home park. The airport is vital infrastructure, its main market was business, feeding our cities economy behind the scenes. Made more vital by our lack of motorway and abysmal rail services. Losing it will not have a direct impact for most people, but slowly and surely our city will deteriorate without it.
This is why our councillors, focused purely on their next election, are more interested in a on time windfall then securing our city's future.
There is no reason not to back it. No one has any reason not to let Viable give it a shot. No one has anything to lose by supporting the airport and everything to lose by attacking it. Unless you're a SHH shareholder.”
by PLYMFOX01
Saturday, September 22 2012, 10:22PM
“The council should support places like the Theatre Royal, Pavilions etc. Why shouldnt they? If the airport is viable then why were passenger figures so low and why did it close?”
by b_mused
Saturday, September 22 2012, 10:20PM
“I can't understand the mentality of any local who is against having an airport unless they live near the George or are shareholders in Sutton Harbour. Without it Plymouth will become a backwater.
History shows that it could pay for itself if properly run but it seems that SHH and PCC see more profit for themselves on redevelopment. Shame on PCC if this happens.”
by Rick_OShay
Saturday, September 22 2012, 7:59PM
“Quote: "The council is quite happy to give millions to the Theatre Royal, quite happy to give many more millions to the Life Centre, and quite happy to think about giving further millions for the redevelopment of the Pavilions and surrounding area.......double standards"
No, not double standards. The theatre, Life Centre and Pavillions are widely accessible and used by a cross section of the general population, the Jannerdrome was not.
Rick O'Shay
Zog”
by tinnedfingers
Saturday, September 22 2012, 6:18PM
“Wouldn't it have been more helpful if the thousands who signed the petition had truned up more often to use air services when we had them????”