Council commences legal action against airport owner over alleged “stripping” of critical assets
The mayor of Doncaster has launched legal action against the owner of Doncaster Sheffield Airport after alleging it is "stripping out critical assets to the operation of the airport therefore potentially making it unusable and unsellable".
Ros Jones said she had instructed lawyers at Doncaster Council to commence legal action to prevent the removal of the assets and infrastructure.
The owner, Peel Group, has had a 75% shareholding in the airport since 2003 and, according to the council, has recently begun winding down key operations.
The council has been attempting to find a buyer for the airport so it can continue to operate, but it says the asset sell-off is undermining a potential sale.
In a statement published earlier this week (25 October), Jones stated she has been pushing the owner "to be reasonable and let others who believe the [airport] has a future step in and buy it".
At the time, Jones said she had written to the owner to warn that the council would seek an injunction if it continued on its course.
She stated that the airport is a significant holding for the city, the wider Yorkshire and Humber region, and the nation, as the Ministry of Defence sometimes uses the airport.
In a series of tweets made yesterday (27 October), Jones said: "Due to lack of govt support & actions of Peel with ridiculous timeframe & unwillingness to stop the closure, I have instructed @MyDoncaster to commence legal action to prevent removal of critical assets & infrastructure vital for operation & future potential operators."
She added: "I have made it clear to Peel that if there is no collaborative arrangement for the airport's future, we will initiate the process for a Compulsory Purchase Order. We are in the 11th, the next 24 – 48 hours are critical if we are to save @DSA_Airport."
The local authority has offered to provide financial support to Peel to enable it to continue operating the airport at no loss while negotiating the airport's sale, but Peel rejected the offer.
Peel Group has been approached for comment.
Adam Carey
