17.11.05
Certainty at last – County Council reacts to announcement on joint combat aircraft and St Mawgan

Cornwall County Council, as owner of Newquay Cornwall Airport, has noted today's announcement that St Mawgan is out of the running as one of the UK bases for the joint combat aircraft and says in the light of this that it can begin detailed planning to secure the future of the civil airport.

Leader of the Council, David Whalley says: "This announcement presents both challenges and opportunities. It is very sad for everyone involved in the St Mawgan base. However, it has given a degree of certainty about the future of Newquay Cornwall Airport. This will allow us to press ahead with planning to secure the civil airport's future. In the meantime we hope that our links with the RAF, which have been very positive for Cornwall, will continue."

County Council Executive Member for the Economy, Andrew Mitchell says: "We would be delighted if, at some point, it was decided that St Mawgan has a future military role. But for now we will plan to provide all the facilities necessary for Civil Aviation Authority accreditation ourselves, and will be seeking a private sector partner to share this work."

Newquay Cornwall Airport is used by around 350,000 passengers a year at present and the terminal is undergoing a £2.8 million refit and extension to allow for increasing passenger throughput.

This week Air Southwest added Cardiff and Norwich to its range of destinations available from Newquay next year and the airport has continuing services including Stansted, Gatwick, Dublin, Malaga and Isles of Scilly. Airport managers Serco and the County Council are in talks with other airlines to increase the range of destinations.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

back to top