Commenting on Peel Group’s decision to close Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Labour’s lead for Economic Development in Sheffield Cllr Ben Miskell said:

“This is a total betrayal of the people of South Yorkshire by a corporation that simply couldn’t care less about our region. Over the years the taxpayer has invested millions in our airport and we did so in good faith.”

Councillor Ben Miskell went on to say:

“Peel Group should be ashamed of how they have conducted themselves over the past few months, during what is now clear was a sham consultation. Their behaviour is a disgrace and hundreds of jobs are now set to be lost. It’s clear that airlines like TUI and Wizz are likely to switch routes to Leeds or Manchester.”.

“Doncaster Sheffield Airport is part of our heritage and our future. The people of South Yorkshire will never forgive the remote businessmen who have made this decision. We don’t need the runway and terminal building converted into yet another industrial estate, we need to keep our links to the world!”.

“All the councils across South Yorkshire and Mayor Oliver Coppard have worked day and night to find a solution. Pledging public funding to keep the airport running over the next 12 months. We know that there’s commercial interest from other partners to step in and take over from Peel, but they clearly aren’t interested. All they want to do is make a quick buck regardless of our economic needs in the region”.