'What a day!' Airport campaigner's pride at mayor's DSA takeover deal
He said: “I'm incredibly proud of every single person who's helped keep this campaign going”
A city businessman who has led the public fight to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport has spoken of his delight after a deal was struck to take it into public ownership.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority yesterday confirmed a deal is in place to purchase the airport - which closed in 2022 - from landowmers Peel.
Mark Chadwick, owner of Doncaster’s Stadium Garage and who created the Save DSA campaign was overjoyed at the announcement and said: “What a day for Doncaster Sheffield Airport!
“I think we can all agree that the news is potentially one of the biggest developments we've had since the airport closed in November 2022.
“The proposed freehold deal could finally put the long-running lease problems behind us and deliver a significant saving to the public purse.
“When I founded Save DSA back in July 2022, I never imagined we'd still be here over four years later, fighting for something, fighting to stop going back in time. Fighting for our airport.
Over 130,000 petition signatures, more than 44,000 supporters, countless meetings, emails, telephone calls, interviews and probably a few grey hairs along the way.
“I'd like to think we've played our part.
“But this has always been a collective effort.
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“Oliver Coppard, Ros Jones and their respective teams deserve recognition for the work that's gone into getting us to this point.
“Dan Fell and Doncaster Chamber, our local MPs, the business community and countless others working behind the scenes have all contributed.
“And let's not forget Christian Foster, Simon Hinchley and the entire Fly Doncaster team!
“While we've all been talking about reopening the airport, they've been getting on with actually making it happen!
“Four years ago, people told us to accept the closure and move on. Well, we didn’t did we?
“And I'm incredibly proud of every single person who's helped keep this campaign going.
“It’s no longer if DSA is opening, it;s now when DSA is opening.
“One final thought. Doncaster Sheffield Airport — our airport?
“No, the people’s airport and our future. Not just Doncaster's future, but South Yorkshire's future.
“We never gave up.”