Cornwall’s six MPs condemn Cornwall Council over airport ‘sell off’
MPs Ben Maguire, Andrew George, Perran Moon, Anna Gelderd, Noah Law and Jayne Kirkham have written a joint statement
All six of Cornwall’s newly elected MPs have released a joint statement condemning Conservative-controlled Cornwall Council’s decision to “sell off” Newquay airport without proper public consultation.
Liberal Democrat MPs Ben Maguire and Andrew George, as well as Labour MPs Perran Moon, Anna Gelderd, Noah Law and Jayne Kirkham said in their joint statement: “We are concerned that decisions made by Cornwall Council’s Cabinet about the future of Cornwall Newquay Airport and the 650 acres of Cornwall surrounding it are being rushed, without full consultation with the business community or transparency with the public around the process of the negotiation and the commercial terms of the deal.
“Meaningful consultation needs to take place with the business community and the democratically elected councillors. We are calling for the council to publish the consultation process, with timescales and the specific evaluation procedure that will be undertaken, as well as the independent political scrutiny that will be made following the consultation process and prior to any final decision on the future of this vital facility.”
The decision by the Tory Cabinet to seek a financial partner to take over the running of the airport, which is subsidised by the taxpayer to the tune of around £4.8m each year, has proved controversial. Two Conservative councillors cited the machinations of their Cabinet around the airport decision as among the reasons they quit the group in recent weeks.
Cornwall’s business community has also been extremely critical of a perceived lack of consultation. The new chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce wrote to the council last month calling for it to immediately suspend any plan for a partnership deal.
John Brown wrote: “I am writing to express the Chamber’s profound disappointment regarding the recent decision to select Westcore as the preferred partner to manage Newquay airport. This decision, made without consulting the business community and behind closed doors, is both unacceptable and opaque. It disregards the vital role that the private sector plays in our regional economy.
“It is particularly troubling that Westcore, the chosen partner, appears to have limited experience in managing airports. Proficiency in airport management should be the foremost criterion in selecting a partner for an asset as critical as Newquay airport, with property development being a secondary consideration.
“The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce stands ready to gather insights and opinions from leaders across business, higher education and charitable sectors to advise the council on what we believe to be essential in selecting an appropriate partner.”
Miles Carden, chief executive of Falmouth Harbour and former Spaceport Cornwall boss, is also concerned. He wrote to councillor Julian German, leader of the opposition at the local authority, stating: “What about Cornwall Council peer reviewing any decision through a private sector leadership group? I fear for the future of the airport and need reassurance that the right decisions are being made, albeit I fully understand the complexities and challenges with the airport.”
The council announced on August 1 that it had entered into an exclusivity period with a potential partner for the future operation and management of the airport and its estate. It named asset manager Adynaton Asset Management LLP as that potential partner.
Adynaton is named on its website as having a “key relationship” with Westcore Europe, the American-owned company originally cited as being the potential partner in council papers not seen by the public.
The local authority’s ruling Tory group is hoping a deal would allow a partner to develop the land around the airport and also take the financial pressure off the council when it comes to operating the airport, which runs at a loss. The wider Cornwall Airport Newquay estate includes Aerohub Business Park, the Spaceport, Kernow Solar Park and 200 acres of land, which is likely to be developed by the favoured new partner.
When the prospective partner was announced earlier this month, portfolio holder for the economy Cllr Louis Gardner said: “This the next step in a very rigorous process and means an exciting opportunity to introduce potential significant new funding into the Cornish economy, provide the long-term economic stimulus that the area needs and ensure value for money for Cornish residents, comes a step closer.”
A final report about all aspects of the deal is due to be presented to Cornwall Council’s Conservative Cabinet in the autumn which will include more details about what could be built on the airport land.