Doncaster Sheffield Airport: No decision on removal of airspace, Government tells campaigner

Businessman Mark Chadwick, who runs the Save Doncaster Sheffield Airport Facebook group, wrote to Transport Secretary Mark Harper asking for an update as talks between owners Peel and a consortium from the United Arab Emirates continue.

The base closed in November last year, with some facilties and equipment stripped out and moved to other airports around the UK.

Mr Chadwick, who runs Doncaster’s Stadium Garage, says he has been told by the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority that no decision will be made on the full removal of designated airspace for a number of months to allow further information to be submitted by interested parties.

The letter, seen by the Free Press said: “The UK's independent airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is currently considering the future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport's controlled airspace. The CAA has agreed to allow Doncaster City Council to provide further evidence to aid its decision making. The CAA has also confirmed that no decision on the future of the Doncaster controlled airspace will be made for several months.”

City of Doncaster Council has been preparing a compulsory purchase order for the site, but the authority’s hands are tied while talks are ongoing with UAE investors.

Said Mr Chadwick: “With designated airspace removal postponed, a timely reopening of DSA could be carried out if a sale goes through or when DMBC carry out the CPO.”

The letter added: “The government has remained engaged with all parties throughout the period of the review into Doncaster Sheffield Airport's viability and since the decision

to close the airport.

"The Department continues to encourage local leaders and Peel Group to work together to find a solution for the site that will benefit local people and the region's economy.

“It is encouraging that Doncaster City Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority have written to Peel Group with details of interested investors. The Department understands that Peel Group is engaging with these investors and we strongly encourage it to consider any credible offers.

Last week, Mr Chadwick called on local politicians of all parties to put differences aside and work together to secure the return of the airport, which first opened for commercial flights in 2005.

He has called for a meeting involving Doncaster’s three MPs – Ed Miliband and Dame Rose Winterton (Labour), Nick Fletcher (Conservative) as well as South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, as well as other leading civic dignataries to thrash out a framework on how to work together to see the airport, formerly RAF Finningley re-open.

He said he took the measure to demand the meeting after becoming increasingly frustrated between local politicians playing the ‘blame game’ in a war of words over the airport.

His Facebook group now has well over 21,000 supporters and is promoting the campaign to get DSA reopened and to save the airspace.