At last week’s Council meeting, the Conservatives emerged as the only party willing to give Manston airport the operating flexibility it needs to develop and provide much needed employment for local people.
Labour, the real Independents and TIG all rejected a Conservative amendment which stated: 'Thanet District Council fully supports the airport and recognises that it needs some flexibility in its night-time flying policy in order to realise its full potential and deliver the jobs that Thanet desperately needs.'
Clive Hart's 'socialists' made it clear that job opportunities were a reasonable sacrifice for votes in Ramsgate, to keep them in power. TIG’s Cllr Ian Driver went even further and stated that he would welcome the closure of the airport now.
Labour’s proposal to put a total curfew on the airport's operating hours from 11pm to 7am will seriously harm Manston's prospects of becoming a thriving business capable of supporting up to 3000 new jobs. Thanet's residents are left to envy the success of Southend Airport which, with full local council support, has, in just three years, become a major employer in the area. Labour claim that their recent survey of public opinion on 'night-time' flying supports their stance but it is clear that the methodology employed was skewed in favour of motivated responders in the 'no night flights' camp.
Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Bob Bayford said: “We are not in favour of a ‘free for all’ at Manston throughout the night – that would clearly be unacceptable. However, Labour’s iron fist policy will kill Manston and its potential to offer real jobs to people in Thanet. Yet again, Thanet’s Labour administration has proved it will pander to a vocal minority when it can keep them in power.”