News

Bosses at Stobart Air say they are mystified as to why the government called in its planning application to Cumbria County Council to develop Carlisle Airport and launch freight and passenger services.

The Secretary of State for Transport said a decision on the plans was "of greater than local importance" and ordered a public inquiry, which led to the company withdrawing its application and shelving proposals to transform the airfield.

As a result, Stobart  Group, whose chief executive Andrew Tinkler is also chairman of Stobart Air, has extended its option to buy the airport for another six months.

Tinkler says this should safeguard jobs and minimise the risk of another planning application being rejected. But concerns are growing that the haulage group will follow through with its threat to leave Cumbria and settle in Widnes, Cheshire instead.

A company representative says Stobart Air pulled out of the public inquiry because it can't ascertain why the government was so concerned.

"Stobart Air doesn't know if moving operations is the issue, or making improvements to the runway is the issue. Unfortunately we are stuck in the position where Stobart employees are still uncertain about their future. Andrew said that if we don't get this we will move to Widnes, but we are trying everything we can."

Stobart Group proposed to enter into an option to acquire Carlisle Airport  for £15m in March. Its board believes that the acquisition offers the potential to develop passenger aviation activities and provide customers with opportunities for air freight facilities in the future.

Tinkler says he had no choice but to withdraw the application. "We are still not clear on the real reasons why the application was called in," he says.

"The GONW [Government Office for the North-West] is citing 'matters of greater than local importance', but we fail to understand what those matters are."