CAMPAIGNERS wanting an inquiry into whether the old Sheffield City Airport could be reopened are holding a public meeting.
The event has been called by Yorkshire and the Humber Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope and the Federation of Small Businesses.
The meeting is to take place in a conference room at The Aston Hotel, Britannia Way, Catcliffe, from 3.30pm on Friday, January 11.
Neville Martin, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in South Yorkshire, said: “The meeting will be held to give a public briefing as to the current position in relation to the airport and to make a formal announcement about the progress so far.”
Some 2,690 people have signed an online petition launched six weeks ago into whether an inquiry should be held to look into the case to reopen the airport.
Sheffield City Airport was open to scheduled flights between 1997 and 2002. It was then downgraded for use solely by light aircraft, before the facility was closed in 2008.
Owners Peel have been granted permission to expand a neighbouring business park on to the old runway but no construction work has yet taken place.
Dozens of comments have been made by people signing an online petition to save the airport.
Supporters say that Robin Hood Airport does not provide flights suitable for businesses, and that Sheffield City Airport should be restored to provide shuttle flights to major cities.
Sue Thompson, of King Ecgbert School, Totley, posted: “Railways were taken up without a thought for the future and now we desperately need them, so let’s not make the same mistake with Sheffield Airport.”
Another post, from helicopter worker Bill Leach, said: “I used to work for a helicopter operator based at Sheffield City Airport - obviously no more!
“I now work for a helicopter charter company on the South coast, and I get enquiries from people who want to fly to Sheffield.
“It is difficult to provide a service to those clients when there is nowhere to land...”
But residents under the old flight path, in Darnall and Treeton, are worried about noise if the airport was to be reopened.
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