Statement on Doncaster Sheffield Airport

MP Nick Fletcher has issued an update

Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher has issued an update on day 16 of talks to save Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The site is facing permanent closure with the loss of up to 800 jobs.

"Firstly something more positive after my Frustrated Update about Doncaster Sheffield Airport yesterday!

I attach a form that can be printed off for people to complete who haven’t already signed the petition online. That might mean those with no access to the internet or those who you meet who haven’t signed yet. Just try to get as many signatures that you can wherever you go. Fold it up once printed and carry it around with you! Print as many as you like!

When completed please email me a photo of it so we can add them to those who have signed online. My email is Nick.Fletcher.MP@Parliament.uk. Any questions, please let me know in the comments.

GOVERNMENT

In the Day 15 Update I explained about who can decide what to do and why devolved powers means we must look to Oliver Coppard. Nonetheless it is important that we keep Ministers informed and that is what I do regularly behind the scenes.

Robert Courts MP the Aviation Minister tells me he his awaiting a meeting to be arranged with Oliver Coppard of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Please don’t think that Ministers don’t care. They do. I am working closely with them and when and if they need to become involved then I will make that very clear to them indeed.

It is very early days as we are at Day 16 in the 42 day consultation period. I would expect a lot more progress to be made by Mayor Oliver Coppard before that call needs to be made. Peel know that Government do not want Doncaster Sheffield Airport closing. They have made that crystal clear in their meeting with Peel.

ONLINE PETITION

This is going strong still and has now reached the amazing total of over 78,000 signatures. The link is here: https://www.change.org/.../save-doncaster-sheffield...

Please do your best to try to share that link every day. Don’t assume your family and friends have signed it. Ask them please to sign it. Have your work colleagues all signed?

The Crown Hotel Bawtry have printed off the barcode created by Faye LF and framed it so their customers can see it and act on it. Local printers through Yorkshire Plane Spotting have offered to print some stickers to spread awareness of the threatened closure. It’s great to see our community working together like this.

If you can print it off and take it to your workplace that would be really helpful in spreading the word. I attach it again below.

By the way, don’t forget to vote for Doncaster in the GBR headquarters competition. We have made the shortlist of 6 out of 42. It’s a great achievement but we want to win and bring new jobs here. gbrtt.co.uk/vote

PEEL’S WEBSITE AND THEIR VALUES

Who are Peel and what do they stand for? Let’s start with their website https://peellandp.co.uk/about-us/ which says proudly on the entry page:

“We devote our energy to accomplishing great things; not for their own sake, or ours,but for those who come after. Today, tomorrow and for generations to come. Our ambitions are for a more prosperous, sustainable future for all; where people and places are matched with opportunity to be the very best they can be.”

How can closing down an International Airport with so many advantages going for it be seen as a “great thing”? How does that help generations to come?

It goes on and talks about legacies:

“Our legacy matters. We take great pride in the outcomes we achieve, the people we work with, the way we go about our business and the transformational projects we deliver.”

Their legacy in Teesside is one of bitterness. Go up to Teesside like I have on Day 7. Speak to locals. Speak to the Mayor. Ben Houchen - Tees Valley Mayor is there. I’ve met with him. Peel are not wanted back there one little bit. And Teesside International Airport Limited is now thriving. Check their Facebook page.

It seems they are intent on creating the exact same reputation in South Yorkshire as they have in Teesside. To take great pride in shutting down an International Airport which DSA is, well that’s something I will never understand.

The same website then talks of people and community.

“We engage local communities and support them in their ambition to thrive by re-energising regional economies.”

They are right in what they say but absolutely wrong in how they are going about it. Our community has an ambition to thrive. Our community has an ambition to build a strong local economy. It’s what I want and what I’ve been working hard on ever since I was elected in December 2019. We do need to re-energise our economy. It’s what my constituents voted for.

Closure of DSA will not re-energise Doncaster’s economy. It will not re-energise South Yorkshire’s economy. It will do the very opposite of engaging our community. If this is support then heaven help us if they go the extra mile.

There is only one way they can really support Doncaster and South Yorkshire. Stop all the talk of closure. Take out their company hard man who is sent in to close down operations. Replace him with someone who wants to create a thriving business.

MESSAGE TO PEEL

My message to Peel and John Whittaker is a simple one. Work with us and we will work with you. Do the right thing for the right reasons. You know closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport will drive a dagger into the heart of our community. Reconsider. Be the bigger person and call off the closure.

MESSAGE TO YOU

More for you tomorrow. I will do all I can to keep our airport and avoid the massive damage to our economy that closure will cause.

Check my video (attached) and get in touch with your MP please. Alexander Stafford MP, Brendan Clarke-Smith MP and Sarah Champion have written letters of support. Has your MP?

We’ve a long way to go yet and so much more can be done and will be done. Stay strong. Keep the faith. We can do this. Let’s work together. Let’s communicate properly. Let’s be more organised. Let’s Keep Our Airport Open.