Coventry Airport Hits Back

[HW Chris]

COVENTRY Airport has lost patience with Warwick District Council over its planning permission battle and gone on the attack.

The TUI-owned airport has accused the council of wasting taxpayers' money and going against the public's wishes in its attempt to stop the airport using a temporary passenger terminal.

Warwick District Council is currently preparing to file an injunction against the airport to force it to knock the facility down. TUI's new low-cost carrier Thomsonfly only started operating from Coventry 11 days ago.

Until now, airport bosses have bitten their tongues in a bid to avoid aggravating the debate with council officials.

Coventry Airport managing director Bill Savage said: �There is no public interest in the council acting in this way. It is not fair on taxpayers, who end up will paying the costs for the council's mistakes.

�It is not fair on the airport, which is making every effort to work openly with the council, and it is not fair on the many thousands of people who benefit from the airport - be they passengers, employees or local businesses.�

Savage said the council had based its decisions on �fundamentally incorrect� information, and claimed the council turned down offers to meet with airport officials onsite to talk through work done and to meet with an independent mediator.

He added: �We are absolutely confident any threatened enforcement action against the airport will fail. The council has no legitimate grounds for taking action against Coventry Airport.�

Since taking over from the previous owner, Savage and his team have tried to appease the council's planning officers by removing a toilet block and stairwell from the main terminal, digging up work on the runway and sealing off a proposed car park.

The council dismissed the outburst from Coventry Airport. A spokesman said: �We've heard what they've said. We'll see them in court.�

Source: Travelweekly.co.uk