MP PRESSES CASE FOR INVESTMENT IN CROSS RUNWAY AT WICK
July 4, 2002 12:00 AM
Local MP John Thurso has this week pressed the case for investment in the cross runway at Wick Airport. Speaking in a debate on Air Services in Scotland, the MP highlighted the growing business in general aviation now established at the Airport and the threat to continuing development if the cross runway is not secured.
John Thurso told the Commons that whereas "the number of air passengers at Wick had dropped over the last decade from some 32,000 to 22,000, there had been tremendous success in building up a sustainable business offering Wick as the jump off airport for transatlantic general aviation. Last year there were 300 transatlantic flights landing at and departing from Wick, of which it is estimated 60% used overnight accommodation in the county. That economic benefit is threatened by the fact that the cross runway, which is vital in our very windy climate, is no longer available to scheduled aircraft and even general aviation is now at risk."
The MP called on Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office, Anne McGuire, MP, to bring pressure to bear to ensure that additional funding is found (HIAL has ringfenced only £300,000) to meet the £1.8m repair bill.
Speaking after the debate, John Thurso said: "It is vital that we secure the funds for this repair work. Without it, the operation of the air ambulance would be compromised with the potential threat at some time in the future of a life lost due to the inability of the air ambulance to gain access in strong winds. The cross runway is also used by small aircraft visiting Ackergill Tower and general aviation connected to other sectors, such as oil related work.
In a separate move, the MP has approached Loganair Chairman, Scott Grier, urging fresh talks with the Wick Airport Consultative Committee on more tailored timetabling and larger aircraft on the Wick-Edinburgh air route. John Thurso said:
"There is now very considerable Dounreay "decommissioning" traffic to and from the county building up, a very high percentage of which continues to route through Inverness because of more consumer friendly timetabling. We have the potential considerably to boost air passenger traffic through Wick and I hope that both Loganair and Eastern Airways will take an early and very careful look at the potential market which now exists to increase sales on these routes."
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