Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Transport Secretary refuses to meet South Yorkshire leaders

Prime minister Liz Truss declared her commitment to do ‘all she can’ to save it but Louise Haigh, Labour shadow transport minister and MP for Sheffield Heeley, said the Government had “refused to lift a finger” since the closure was announced.

Peel Group, the airport’s owner, declared it would be shutting down operations from October 31 despite the offer of public money to keep it open into 2023.

The company said “no tangible proposals” were received regarding its future ownership and the closure was due to a “fundamental lack of financial viability”.

Today, Ms Haigh asked if Anne Marie Trevelyan, Secretary of State for Transport, would urgently meet with the mayor of South Yorkshire and regional MPs to consider using her powers – under the Civil Contingencies Act 2008 – to keep the airport running.

Ms Trevelyan ignored the request and said the believed the act would not prevent closure.

During the House of Commons debate, Ms Haigh said: “The Prime Minister promised to protect Doncaster Sheffield Airport during her leadership campaign and she gave a promise to the member for Don Valley at her first Prime Minister’s Questions to do what she could to protect the airport. This isn’t just a commercial decision, the mayor has written to Peel this morning with names of potential bidders and a reiteration of financial support to keep the airport running.”

Responding to her comments and request, Ms Trevelyan replied: “Department for Transport ministers and officials have been clear throughout that Government support our regional airports and that they provide a vital contribution.

“But throughout the review carried out by Peel Group, transport officials have been working together and indeed urging, and I am very pleased to hear there are new proposals on the table working with the local authorities and the Peel Group to find ways forward.

“The issue that [Ms Haigh] raises around the Civil Contingencies Act to prevent closure, I have looked at in some detail and whilst all things around Civil Contingencies Act are owned and determined by cabinet office ministers, I am not persuaded that the closure of DSA would be able to be undertaken under that act.”

Ms Haigh said losing the airport would be a huge blow to the North of England and the 2,900 people who work there.

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A petition with more than 10,000 signatures was sent to the Department for Transport calling for the site to be saved.

Last week, Doncaster Council and Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire Mayor, said they had received no contact with any ministers since the closure was announced.