Representation by Barry Latchford
- Date submitted
- 19 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
DUBIOUS ASSESSMENT BY APPLICANT OF ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM A PROPOSED CARGO HUB AS OPPOSED TO THE PROVEN BENEFITS OF EXISTING AND GROWING RECREATIONAL, TOURISM AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN THE AREA
APPLICANT’S CREDIBILITY There have been four reports from credible aviation experts, Falcon Consultancy July 2014, Avia Solutions August 2017, Altitude Aviations January 2018 York Aviation November 2017 (which also discredited the only favourable report by [Redacted] of Azimuth Associates) Showing that a commercial airport at Manston is both unviable and unnecessary. The application states foreseeable figures without providing anything of substance to back them up and nothing in my opinion seems to have been provided to show that Manston is truly a site of National Significance and therefore worthy of a DCO, especially as most freight is carried in the hold of passenger flights and the demand for dedicated freight flights has significantly reduced according to figures from the Civil Aviation Authority. The main proponent of the application originally tried with RiverOak Investments, (an American Hedge fund dealing in Real Estate and with no past experience of aviation) to get Thanet District Council to issue a compulsory purchase order which was refused as they couldn’t provide proof of sufficient finance. When RiverOak dropped out RiverOak Strategic Partners was formed to apply for a DCO along with the same proponent who, with a record of previous failures has now set up a special purpose vehicle business registered in Belize. All this seem to suggest nothing more than an attempt at a land grab that could see yet another failed airport venture to the detriment of the whole area.
AT RISK The current owners of the site at Manston have an application in at TDC for an extensive development which includes 4,000 houses, a school, medical centre, community centre, a country park, a sports’ village, as well as an advanced manufacturing High Tech Business Park which would not only provide much needed homes, including social housing, but give a real prospect for much needed jobs in the area. Their plans also include preservation of a heritage runway with museums which respect and honour Manston’s past and all those who gave so much to our country as a whole. Unlike RSP they have a proven track record of delivering with such developments as Discovery Park in Sandwich and Wynyard Park in Teeside Should this application be accepted it will put an end to this current sound proposal and will lead to an increase in housing without supporting infrastructure being built around local villages, including some green field sites. After which, according to past history and the various credible aviation reports, the airport will once again fail having destroyed viable attempts to provide housing, and true business opportunities in the area. The very threat of an aviation cargo hub at Manston can only serve to put off companies from locating or expanding in the area and thereby hinder true progress for the area.