Your about-turn on the serious matter of Sheffield Airport is typical of what most politicians do when a change of power takes place.

The thousands of pounds which this public inquiry would cost is but a drop in the ocean in the multi-million pound budget of that mega- money-squandering machine called Sheffield.

What a public inquiry would do is clear up once and for all just who had the nice little earners and why this tragedy was allowed to happen in the first place. Otherwise it will fester for ever in the minds of the citizens of Sheffield.

We all know that we have been stuffed and served up like a pre-Christmas turkey on a silver platter for the princely sum of £1. To have been sold down the river, or should I say runway, like this is unforgivable and future generations will be forever asking – why?

It is still not too late to turn this matter around and make the airport work. However, until all the facts have been brought out into the open, this will never happen. Why is everyone so afraid of opening this giant can of worms? Just what is lurking out there?

HJ Greaves, Abbeydale Road, Sheffield

n The airport debacle just won't go away. Now we have Council Leader Paul Scriven claiming that the only thing that matters is that mistakes aren't repeated.

But he also seems to admit that he doesn't know the full story behind the disgraceful decision to sell the airport for only £1.

So why has he suddenly decided he doesn't want an enquiry, when he was all for it a few weeks ago?

Since 1992, the Sheffield City Airport saga has been one long catalogue of dodgy decisions and shady dealings. Only a public inquiry will get to the bottom of it and let Sheffield people see what really happened to their airport.

Not so long ago, Coun Scriven himself wanted a public inquiry. What has changed? Has he suddenly discovered that there is something to hide after all?

MW

n The article, Companies must challenge council, was by John Mothersole, who is chief executive of Sheffield City Council.

He is also the man who was responsible for the failure of Sheffield City Airport by allowing the operators Peel & Co to breach the lease on numerous occasions.

The operators were able to obtain the land worth £250 million for £1, thus depriving the citizens and taxpayers of Sheffield of not only a vital asset but millions in money for the land.

Now he wants the business community to run the city, not the elected councillors who are put in power democratically by the citizens of Sheffield.

I believe that prior to the May elections Paul Scriven was saying that he wanted to rid the council of its quangos and give the electorate more say in the running of the city. It seems that according to John Mothersole this is not now the case.

Sheffield citizens who voted for Paul Scriven and his Lib Dems should now lobby their councillors and demand that they keep their promises.

The first candidate for the chop should be the chief executive John Mothersole and his band of deputy executives.

Let us start to regain our democracy. After what is happening with the credit crunch we have to tighten the reins of the business fat cats not give them more power!

AM, Sheffield



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