A Tolhurst welcomed everyone to the joint Airport Consultative Committee and Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee meeting. 

An extended welcome went to Robert Hough CBE DL, Chairman of Peel Airports Group and to David Grant, Managing Director of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) to the meeting. 

Introductions were made and apologies for absence were noted as above. 

A Tolhurst opened the meeting and said that the past 5 months had been stressful for so many, not least for the airport employees and those of partner organisations.  It has also been a worrying time for local people who have taken great pride in their airport.

It was unclear whether today’s meeting would be the Committee’s last as there was much going on regarding the site’s future.

The Committee were aware that airline activity had ceased and some businesses had already deployed elsewhere.  Apart from that the Members were only aware of what is reported in the media. So, Robert’s and David’s update today on developments is welcome.

However, before coming to that discussion, Members were reminded how the airport had got to the current position.

Tourism is a great economic driver and like so many A Tolhurst was delighted when Peel Airports Ltd decided to develop RAF Finningley as a commercial airport.  It was a bold decision but a well found one, given the circumstances at the time.

Around the Millennium there was rapid growth in start-up low-cost airlines.   Ryanair started operations in 1984, and in the early 2000s at least 10 new low-cost airlines were formed.  Also at the time, major airports, like Heathrow, were running short of available slots and airlines were considering alternative operating options. 

Just a year after it opened TUI, Ryanair, EasyJet, and Thomas Cook started using DSA, joined later by Wizz Air and Flybe.  And in 2018 a new Masterplan was produced. 

For a couple of years, the Vantage Airports Group had a stake in DSA (or Robin Hood as it was titled) and the Quebec Government opened a maintenance and overhaul business in Hangar 2.  BAE systems also had an engineering training facility at the airport.  Even plans for a railway station at DSA were being developed.  And the Royal opening of the Terminal was a significant milestone in the airport’s story.

DSA provided excellent support to DHL when East Midlands Airport was out of commission and had been an ideal destination for flights by heavy cargo aircraft such as Antanov 125 and 225 and B747s.

Furthermore, gaining the best regional airport award four years running from the Which? Magazine underscored the quality of service provided at DSA.

So, the outlook was good.  But, as Members had noted before, change is the only constant.  Over the past decade or so, the travel and tourism industries have seen considerable turmoil which has had a huge impact on airports such as DSA.

A Tolhurst went on to say that life is often filled with “if only” moments:

o      If only bids in 2020 for external equity support for DSA from local authorities had been agreed.

o      If only local leaders had responded to the Committee’s plea in October 2020 to support DSA let alone taken action.  Members will recall that, in short, the Committee had said that DSA was at risk and its case was being lost in comparison  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Robert Hough CBE DL, Chairman of Peel Airports Group informed the Committee that he had been involved with the formation of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) since the very beginning back in 1998.  He said that he had a sentimental and emotional attachment to the airport.  Peel Airports Group viewed the closure of DSA as a dramatic end of a journey of an outstanding airport, despite the best efforts to make it work as a group. 

Members were reminded of the sequence of events which had led to the strategic review of DSA being commissioned by the Board of DSA and the decision made in September 2022 to close the airport. 

Over the last 17 years, Peel had invested over £250m in the project/airport. 

It was highlighted that DSA had never handled more than 1.3m passengers in any given year.  To breakeven the airport would need 2.5m passengers travelling through the airport every year. 

Members were informed that 1,800 people still travel across the Pennines daily to Manchester airport.

In relation to the future use of the airport site, it was envisaged that the site could be utilised for high paid skilled jobs in advanced manufacturing, light-weight engineering and aeronautical engineering. 

Members were informed that the Leeds Administrative Court had heard a claim brought by Doncaster MBC on 22 November 2022 seeking permission to commence judicial review proceedings against the decision of Doncaster Sheffield Airport Ltd to close DSA, and an interim injunction seeking to restrain DSA Ltd from undertaking certain activities associated with that closure. 

It was noted that the decision of the Court would be announced at a later date.  (Post meeting note: the Court rejected the application on 1 December 2022).    

In relation to employees, it was noted that there were 800 people involved in aviation operations at DSA.  Of this, 300 people were still seeking work.  The vast majority of all other employees had found alternative jobs. 

On behalf of DSA and the wider Peel Airports Group, R Hough thanked ACC Members and Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee Members for their time and valuable contributions, which had been very much appreciated.  His heartfelt thanks were expressed to A Tolhurst who had led the Airport Consultative Committee and supported the airport throughout its journey, which was very much appreciated. 

A Tolhurst thanked R Hough for his update and expressed his best wishes to him and to the Peel Group for the future and for Christmas 2022. 

At this point in the meeting, D Grant, Managing Director of DSA, provided the Committee with an update on current operational activities. 

Members were informed that, operationally, when the decision had been made to close DSA on 26 September 2022, airport management had commenced the process of drawing down the facility.  It had been agreed with government that the airport would try to minimise the impact to passengers during this process. 

On 7 October 2022 the airport had closed its freight operations to focus on passenger services.  It was highlighted that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Airport Consultative Committee held on 7 April 2022 be noted and agreed as a correct record of the meeting. 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the special Airport Consultative Committee meeting held on 26 July 2022 be noted and agreed as a correct record of the meeting. 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the special Airport Consultative Committee meeting held on 22 September 2022 be noted and agreed as a correct record of the meeting. 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee meeting held on 22 September 2022 be noted and agreed as a correct record of the meeting. 

A Tolhurst presented a report which set out details of the Airport Consultative Committee’s main achievements made over the last 17 years. 

Members’ attention was drawn to the following key achievements of the Committee:

·            Members had managed the development of a memorial to RAF heritage, including the design and erection of “Aviator” and Monument Stone.

·            Members had supported the Memorial’s formal opening event.

·            Members had hosted consultation meetings of local representatives and stakeholders on Airport Masterplans, including a major event at Mount Pleasant Hotel.

·            Several Members had led on a DSA Timeline Exhibition project, depicting history of the site from 1916 to present.

·            Members had commented on several Government, DfT proposals and CAA consultations.

·            The Committee had designed and introduced a Community Investment Fund process and administration.

·            The Committee had also designed the application process and advised on Defibrillator installations in the local communities.

·            Members had received technical presentations on aircraft performance.

·            The Committee had produced a quarterly Newsletter for publication in the local media.

A Tolhurst said that he was very proud of all the Committee’s achievements. 

N McCarron asked if there were any plans to relocate the Robin Hood monument currently situated in the Terminal Building.  The Committee suggested that the monument could be re-located alongside the Aviator and Monument Stone. 

D Grant agreed to ascertain with Peel colleagues and provide an update following today’s meeting.  Furthermore, D Grant agreed to pass on the Committee suggestion for the relocation of the Robin Hood monument.  ACTION: D Grant

On behalf of all Members, Y Woodcock wished to place on record her sincere thanks to A Tolhurst for his dedication and for all his hard work over the last 17 years. 

Thanks were also given to longstanding Member N McCarron who had been involved with Committee since its formation. 

On behalf of the Committee, A Tolhurst expressed his sincere thanks to DSA’s management team and airport staff for all their support and readiness to work closely with the Committee over the past two decades.

Thanks were also given to Andrew Dutton and to Colin Barnes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport who had deal with DSA’s environmental and noise monitoring complaints in a sensitive and professional manner over several years. 

Grateful thanks were given to current and previous Members of the ACC and Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee for their support and contributions to the role of providing a link between the airport and local communities.

On behalf of all Members, A Tolhurst thanked Andrew Shirt and his predecessors, Martin McCarthy and the late Len Cooksey for their unstinting support to him and to Members.  He said that no Committee could have been more professionally served and the Joint Authorities Governance Unit should be very proud of the work they had done on behalf of the Committee. 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted. 

No further items of business were discussed.