Petition has got the ball rolling: Viable chairman

THE man pushing for the airport to reopen in the city said a 38,000 petition showed "Plymouth has spoken to Plymouth".

Around 100 people packed a public meeting at the Future Inn last night where residents were updated on plans for a proposed city airport.

Raoul Witherall, the chairman of Viable – the group that wants to restart air services from Plymouth – said the volume of signatures collected had "got the ball rolling" and that Viable had put forward a "very serious bid" worth millions to the city council for the lease of the airport site.

But he said backing at a full council meeting on Monday showed "unanimous support" by councillors for the "protection" of the airport site.

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He said: "I'm not a campaigner. The day I don't think this is achievable I will resign.

"We have approached Sutton Harbour Group to begin negotiations. We cannot go into details of the bid but we are in good discussions now with Plymouth City Council."

He urged everyone to write to the Government which might get the prime Minister on side to protect the airport from housing development.