Today, Sir Roger Gale and I launched our five-point plan to re-open Manston as a working airport.
I have long been determined to secure Manston’s future as a working airport. In fact, in 2001 I tried to launch a low-cost airline that would mainly fly between Manston and Malaga. So I’ve always been committed to Manston Airport.
The five-point plan
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Appoint Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) to report on the future of Manston.
Patrick McLoughlin, the Conservative Transport Secretary, and John Hayes, the Conservative Transport Minister, commissioned PWC to provide an independent review of all the documents that have informed decisions in relation to Manston in March. PWC are expected to provide an interim report soon.
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Block planning consent for the proposed development.
Sir Roger Gale and I will lobby Thanet District Council to block planning consent for the development proposed by the new owners of Manston.
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Compulsorily purchase the airport.
Sir Roger Gale and I are calling for Thanet District Council to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order, backed up with financial indemnities, for Manston Airport.
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Deliver the certification needed for the airport to re-open.
A Conservative Government will make sure that the Civil Aviation Authority will grant the licence needed for Manston to re-open as a working airport as swiftly as possible. Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary has promised this.
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Enlist commercial partners for the future.
Sir Roger Gale and I will work with private sector companies to make sure Manston will re-open as a working airport and remain as such. RiverOak - an American firm interested in buying Manston and running it as an airport - has already called on the Council to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order to block the proposed development.
Our five-point plan to Save Manston Airport is thought through, viable and it has the support of the Secretary of State for Transport as well as ministers in the Department for Business, the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the Prime Minister.
Eric Pickles, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, said:
“I cannot pre-judge any quasi-judicial decisions that will need to be made by my department in future, but Craig and Roger`s plan for the future of Manston Airport is compelling. It goes to show that the voters of South Thanet have a simple choice. They can vote for UKIP who can shout from the sidelines but deliver nothing. Or they can vote for Craig Mackinlay, who - because he’s part of a team consisting of government ministers and the next leader of Thanet District Council - will get things done for local people.”
If you want to save Manston, get in touch here. Fill in the online form with your name and "Save Manston".