Airport boss defends expansion plans
14.03.09
The boss at Bristol Airport has hit back at local MP Liam Fox for suggesting its development plans should be shelved due to the recession. Chief executive Robert Sinclair has said he is disappointed by a letter sent to him by Mr Fox and fellow local MP John Penrose, which suggests the case for expanding the airport should be reconsidered. The Weston and Woodspring MPs said they find it hard to believe passenger numbers will increase as much as the airport predicts.
Proposals for a £150m redevelopment of the airport include doubling the size of the terminal, increasing the number of aircraft stands by nine, walkways leading from the terminal to awaiting planes, more airport parking and a new airport hotel.
The MPs' letter was written as part of a consultation on the expansion, which has been running since January and ended last week. It was held to find out people's views on the plans before a planning application is submitted to North Somerset Council in April.
However, Mr Sinclair said: ‘I take issue with what the MPs are saying about the recession impacting our passenger numbers. We have had a lot of growth over the last five years and despite the recession we still think this will go up. Our volumes in 2009 will be relatively flat but we know they will begin to expand again in 2010.’
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