To be frank JasonC I don't know. I do know (so I'm told) that a petition of 5000+ 'signatures' will 'force a public enquiry'.
I seem to recall that SEP was not allowed at Sheffield due to Local Authority planning issues.
I don't have the full story, but it goes along these lines: The airport was built as part of a wider scheme that extracted a great deal of coal from the site, and a wider area, by opencast methods. The airport was supposed to be a "gain" in return for the disruption of coal extraction.
I don't remember when Peel took it over, but of course they also own Doncaster (Robin Hood) nearby, and there is hardly any incentive to struggle with Sheffield when one owns a much bigger and better commercial airport a few miles down the road.
The rumour was that the original deal meant the airport had to stay as an airport if it was viable. Of course if it isn't viable it might as well be used for something else, for example an office park.
Well I say 'let get voting' and see what the 'movers & shakers' can make of it.
Another 2500 'signatures' required to force a 'Public Enquiry' and give them a fighting chance.
The current rate of 'signatures' if woefully slow. We need to pull in some big groups (AOPA, BALPA and Continental business groups etc.)
What about the boys and girls at Sheffield Schools and University - it's their future.
If I walked into The Bull Ring and questioned, I bet there is very few people know about the issue - are there any envoys on the ground 'working the cause'?
Doesn't look like we'll get 5000+ from the aviation fraternity - the net needs casting wider with the right sales message.
When examining the detailed plans for the Northern section of the High Speed Rail (HS2) I note that the runway at Sheffield is just clipped by the cutting for the line, and the apron and terminal are lost.
Maybe this is a good reson why there has been no commercial development so far, Peel are probably well informed!
They've got the 5000+ signatures - it gets handed in to SCC Thursday 14th Feb.
I still don't understand the actual argument as to why it should be allowed to continue. If it won't necessarily help GA, why do we care? Being completely honest, does Sheffield really need two airports?
Doncaster Finningly is hardly "Sheffield " except for Ryanair maybe...
So why do they mention it in their petition?
