Representation by Ken Hardiman
- Date submitted
- 20 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
On a personal level I think that the opportunities in the past to make Thanet a better place to attract business to the area and optimise our infrastructure to enable better employment opportunities. We already have a decent ferry port and unused airport that have been totally wasted as a chance to put the area on the map. Not to mention the historic connections of Manston airport during the 2nd world war and the U.S.A.F being based here during the 50's and 60's during the cold war. Passenger services have historically struggled to make a decent profit at Manston but with the added income from using it as a freight hub would subsidise the income. From what I read the SouthEast of England desperately needs more freight capacity and now at last there is a good road system right from the airport to all the national motorway systems including the M25 and beyond. River Oak seem to have got their act together as far as having the finance in place and nobody could fault them for their due diligence in what a project like this would involve. Thanet desperately needs more employment and social opportunities and River Oak have stated that where possible they would use local labour and provide the necessary training for job opportunities in the long term. The only other opportunity for the airport is the current plan to build over 2500 houses on the site. I know the UK is short of housing but at Manston it would bring more people into an area that couldn't support them with jobs, water and sewage services, education opportunities and healthcare as the area is already struggling to keep all these going. This airport is a necessity to kickstart the regeneration of Thanet. I am now retired but my concern is for my children and grandchildren in the future.