Airport boss says site will not be 'sold for housing'

The managing director of a £25m airport which is up for sale has dispelled concerns small operators are being "pushed away" and "the site will be sold for housing".

A decision on the sale of Gloucestershire Airport, which is jointly owned by Cheltenham Borough and Gloucester City Council, is due in late June.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said there had been concerns over the years the site, once sold, could be carved up for housing. It added people working at the airport had expressed their concerns over rising costs and fears there was a concerted effort to get small operators off the airfield.

Jason Ivey, managing director, rejected the claims and labelled them "mischief making".

He explained that landing fees had increased because the airport was running at a loss and could not afford such cheap rates.

Mr Ivey, who has also been in talks with potential buyers for the site, also said there would be strong clauses which would prevent the site from being used for anything other than aviation.

"The people running the airport are currently trying to get all the small operators off the airfield and run down the business most likely so they can sell off the land for housing development," an airport worker, who did not wish to be named, said.

They said small flights schools had concerns and feared some of the aviation schools would no longer be able to operate there.

"It's killing the small businesses. It's getting to the point where it's very ridiculous."

Mr Ivey refuted those comments. "It's disappointing to see that," he said.

"We don't want to run the operators off. Are we making changes which are not always palatable, yes, we are, but we absolutely aren't trying to force people out."

Mr Ivey said the airport is being sold as a going concern and there will be requirements in the sales particulars which will prevent or massively deter anyone from operating anything there other than an airport.

He said he believed there would be a clause in the sale which would mean if the new owner tried to do anything other than keep it as an operational airport there would be financial penalties.

He added the airport had financially assessed all of the would-be bidders and had streamlined it down to two preferred bidders.

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