Vision and a will

“In fairness to SHH, they're in the business of making money (like all companies), so when a labour council virtually gifted the airport and the land to them they must have got out their pocket calculators and worked out that closing the airport and building on the land would be very profitable.
So unless Viable (or any other interested party) can come up with a more lucrative offer, i can't see SHH changing their minds..”

“Plymouth needs an Airport, however if the Director of Viable was employed by SHH in the role of Airport Director should he not have fought to keep it open rather than wait until all assets and necessary safety vehicles and equipment were sold? I live near the site at Derriford and long for the sound of aircraft to return. Keep up the good work Viable but be prepared for PCC to put every obstacle in your way as SHH will make them a lot of money when site is sold as Building Plots.”

“Ah...I see the pro-airfirld lobby are on :-) I wouldn't exactly say SHH are a 'short-sighted property developer', Matt. They seem to be holding all the cards at the moment.

And Magrathea, thank you for the correction on the location of the thriving Southend airport. 35 miles from London makes it beyond comparison with Plymouth then.

Time will tell if Plymouth will get its airfield back, though I doubt it.
Now if PCC and a good backer could see their way clear to invest and develop a new location, capable of future expansion then so be it. Just don't let the taxpayers of Plymouth foot the bill or end up subsidising it.”

“Southend + its airport is almost exactly due EAST of london in the County of Essex (about 35 miles from the centre of London) and has a runway about the size of the proposed extended runway at Plymouth.”

“@blogtodi
Someone needs to get their facts right.
Plymouth didn't have an airport that failed in the hands of a forward thinking company.
Plymouth had a thriving airport that was bought by a shortsighted property developer, with a clause in their contract stipulating that they can build houses on the land if they decide the airport isn't viable.
As housing lands them with a massive windfall instead of a trickling profit margin, it was a no-brainer for them. As if they were going to waste their time actually running an airport.

The fact that Plymouth is as cut off and perpherial as it is means that there is a greater need for the airport. With diminishing rail services and an abysmal dual carriage way the only way of getting here, business in Plymouth depends on the air links.
SHH's dubious "survey" questioned 12 random business in Plymouth and asked them if they needed the airport. After the fact, 70+ business spoke up to say that they did need the airport, but by then it was too late.
As far as business is concerned, the South West ends at Exeter. Without better infrastructure we'll be forgotten down here and left to rot.

If you want Plymouth to be a load of social housing and run-down shops, full of job-seekers and scroungers, feel free to get behind SHH. If you want business prosperity and jobs in Plymouth, fight for the airport.”

“I'm sorry, jhwings. Isn't Southend Airport south of London? And doesn't your comment reinforce my comment? Eddie Stobbart hasn't gone into charity work, so I guess he bought the airport for business reasons, i.e. to aid his business create profit. Do you see any business jumping in to save Plymouth airport?

If Plymouth badly needs an airport, and I seriously doubt it does, it would have one. As it is, the one we had failed, for whatever reasons. It was picked up by a forward-thinking company as a profitable business speculation, but not in air travel, in housing.

Yes, I stand by my criticism of the comparison of Southend Airport with Plymouth's attempt at an airfield and, yes, I still think it's south of London.”

“Southend south of London? Really? If that's the best you can do with your facts then it doesn't bode well for your opinions blogtodi. International it is though, largely due to the new owners, the Stobart haulage firm who had the vision to buy it and develop it as a mini-hub. Exactly the sort of forward thinking that the people behind Viable and Plymouth Airport Ltd are trying to bring to the table - a breath of fresh air that is otherwise sadly lacking. Something that Plymouth badly needs.”

“i have to go to manchester shortly - here are the choices - a long journey on our nightmare motorways of about four hours (especially the M6 north of Birmingham) and nearly a hundred pounds in fuel. The train which means at least one change and a five and one half hour journey at a cost of 140 plus pounds. Or (and this should be the last choice in my opinion if i consider the environment) a one hour trip to Exeter and a 65 minute trip to manchester plus the time to travel into the city (20 mins). This option is unbelievably, the cheapest but the point i am making is if this is the best choice I should be flying from Plymouth NOT our rival city. If I am making this choice then so will many others whether for leasure or more importantly business. I know most people choose the car but when its paid for by a company they are going to look at the cheapest quickest option. It should be the train but the likelyhood of that improving is even more remote than common sense prevailing about Plymouth airport reopening.”

“Yes I know, b_mused. There have been many ex-employees of failed companies who, desperate to save their jobs, will cling to the hope of the company starting again. The fact that no-one with any savvy, or backing,has come foward to re-open the airport speaks volumes.

As for housing, well more social housing means more rundown areas of Plymouth. Rented accommodation is a short-term option and should always remain so. Long-term rental (social housing) means tenants with little respect for their home and no responsibility for its upkeep.
It's a generalisation, I know, but a sadly accurate one.”

“@blogtodi
If you read today's main item in the Herald, you will learn that the Viable group includes people who have been involved with running the airport and they know that it could be run properly and sustainably. Having used the airport a few times, I am more inclined to back their view than your pessimistic one.
If Plymouth needs more housing over and above Sherford, Devonport etc., etc., it should be social housing (council or housing associations) - what is affordable housing?”