Let's keep politics out of airport re-opening, urges Doncaster campaigner

The businessman leading the public fight to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport has urged people to stop making the campaign about politics, saying he has seen “nastiness, personal attacks, aggression and even threats.”

Garage owner Mark Chadwick, who runs the Save DSA campaign, has made an impassionated plea following the recent announcement by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to buy the airport from land owners Peel to take it into public ownership.

Referring to a TV interview alongside a Green Party supporter shortly after the airport closed in 2022, Mr Chadwick said: “After the interviews, she approached me and said she hoped I hadn't been upset or offended by her comments and her arguments against reopening the airport.

“My reply was simple.

"Of course I'm not upset! I own a garage, I'm a petrolhead, I've raced motorbikes. We're probably never going to agree on some things, but that doesn't mean we can't be polite and respect each other's opinions."

We had a perfectly pleasant conversation, despite having completely opposing views.

“And do you know what?

“I think that might have been the last genuinely pleasant conversation I've had about politics and DSA in the four years since!

“Because, my goodness, what a four years it's been!

“We've had the opinionated keyboard warriors, the so-called supporters of Doncaster who seem to spend more time talking our city down than supporting it.

“We've had grown adults hiding behind fake profiles, deliberately trying to cause disruption, arguments and division.

“And then there are those who don't even bother hiding their identities. People who seem far more interested in scoring political points than doing what's right for Doncaster and its communities.

“I've witnessed some absolutely appalling behaviour over these four years.

“The nastiness, the personal attacks, the aggression and, at times, even threats.

“All over an airport that thousands of ordinary people simply wanted to see reopened.

“But there's another side to these last four years.

“And it's a side I wouldn't change for anything.

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“I've met some absolutely fabulous people.

“People from all walks of life, different backgrounds, different political beliefs and different parts of the country.

“People I would probably never have met, spoken to or become friends with had it not been for #saveDSA.

“And people who, like me, are thoroughly fed up with everything becoming a political argument.

“I've often wondered where we'd be today if politics had been kept out of the whole thing.

“Would we be further forward? Would the airport already be open?

“As much as I've criticised the political arguments, I also recognise that politics has played an enormous part in getting us to where we are today.

“Without political decisions, political backing and public funding, would we now be celebrating the decision to bring DSA back into public ownership? Probably not.

“So perhaps politics itself hasn't been the problem.

“Perhaps it's the way some people have chosen to use it.

There's nothing wrong with disagreeing. There's nothing wrong with challenging decisions, asking difficult questions or holding politicians to account.

“In fact, we should encourage it.

“But disagreement doesn't have to mean disrespect.

“Having a different opinion doesn't make somebody your enemy.

“And supporting Doncaster shouldn't depend on which political party you vote for.”