COUNCIL MUST DO MORE TO HELP DURHAM AIRPORT

9.08.00am GMT Mon 1st Feb 2010

COUNCIL MUST DO MORE TO HELP DURHAM AIRPORT - SENIOR LIB DEM

Bishop Auckland parliamentary candidate Mark Wilkes is calling for Durham County Council and other North East councils to promote Durham Tees Valley airport after news that it has seen a drop of 55.4% in its passenger numbers.

Mark Wilkes, candidate for the Bishop Auckland constituency and a councillor on Durham's new Unitary authority commented. "The County Council has a great deal of responsibility in promoting County Durham as a great place to visit. Part of this must be working with Durham Tees Valley to make sure that everything is being done to help the airport.

"I am not convinced that this is happening and urge the Council leadership to do everything it can to assist. For example, the Council's tourism plans have taken a long time to get off the ground because of the move to a Unitary Authority, and in the middle of a recession, this sets a dangerous precedent.

"The drop in numbers is the worst in the whole of Europe. This has to be sorted out."