Star readers get on board with Shropshire airport idea

The idea for a commercial airfield was spawned when Shrewsbury Town Council criticised Shropshire Council's lack of ambition.

The Star reported last week that own councillor Peter Nutting, who also sits for the Tories on Shropshire Council, claiming there was a business case for such a venture in the county.

He talked of the idea becoming a reality within 20 years and said the growth of Liverpool John Lennon Airport could be used as a model and insisted that the idea was viable.

He also suggested existing airfields in the county, such as RAF Cosford with its M54 links, could also be considered for commercial passenger flights.

More than 1,500 people took part n the shropshirestar.com survey.

Of those taking part, 60 per cent said they would be in favour of Shropshire having its own commercial airport and 40 per cent disagreeing.

Readers were also asked what any airport should be called, with 59 per cent saying it should be named after Shrewsbury's most famous son, creating a Charles Darwin Airport.

A further 24 per cent gave Shropshire International Airport the thumbs up while an airport named after World War One poet Wilfred Owen received seven per cent of the vote.

More frivolous suggestions also won some backing. Shropshire Carol Decker Airport, named in honour of the T'Pau front woman who hails from Shrewsbury, received six per cent of respondents and an airport for England Goal Keeper Joe Hart received just four per cent of the vote.

Councillor Nutting, who was re-elected to his Copthorne ward in last week's local elections, said an airport would create thousands of jobs directly and indirectly and bring more people to the county, adding: "I have no set ideas on how big or small it should be or where it should be but I think it is worthy of putting money into.”

The idea was backed by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce. Its chief executive Richard Sheehan said there would be very real “economic impact” from an airport.

He said expense may prove a hurdle, but urged leaders in Shropshire not to dismiss the idea, adding: “There is nothing wrong with being aspirational, business people are aspirational every day. There is no doubt there would be economic benefits for years to come.”

But the idea was scorned and ridiculed by many Shropshire Star readers responding on Facebook.

‘We need this like a fish needs a bike’

Flight of fancy or soaring ambition? The idea of an airport for Shropshire has prompted a lively debate online. Here are just some of your comments.

Geoffrey H Taylor: Shropshire needs an airport, like a fish needs a bicycle. The region already has excellent airports at Birmingham, East Midlands, and even Coventry and Half penny Green. Perfectly adequate for our needs. We don’t want to lose any of Shropshire’s glorious countryside, and the county’s airspace is already polluted enough by the noise and fumes from the helicopters at Shawbury without adding any further pollution.

Wayne Reese: We can’t have both our existing A&E but we can have an airport?! Makes sense that!

Stuart Poole: I think a small airport in North Shropshire might be a good idea.There’s plenty of unused Word War Two airfields built for heavy aircraft that could be revamped and used.

Elaine Williams: Shropshire is known for its beautiful countryside. We do not have a city and do not need an airport. We are close enough to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool airports – how many more do we need? Do we really want the continuous noise from landing planes flying over our homes? I think not.

Rosemary Perry: Sleap aerofield is prime location. If American bombers planes could use it then won’t need much work. Very flat and runways still there. It just needd terminal buildings.

Pauline Jones: Why not have one in Wales? There’s no airport between Chester and Cardiff, in the same way that they’re woefully short of major hospitals in that area.

Dave Bennett: Oh, you mean take more of our scenic views and green belt away for something that is only a train ride or taxi away? What the hell for?

Gareth Lloyd: Why not just the change the county boundary to include Birmingham? Then we’d have an airport...simples!

Michael Wilkinson: An airport based on what requirements? I recall the plan to build a village at the edge of Telford many years ago which would have a runway with a perimeter track that would allow light aircraft to taxi to the owners houses. It did not take off.

Terry Parsons: One 12 hour plane trip creates as much pollution as one car for a year and the government is having enough trouble controlling pollution at the moment and you want to talk about another airport. Get a grip!

Robert Whitlock: What brain dead zombie thought this up. The last thing we want is flight paths overhead, not to mention the pollution –all for something that is not needed.

Adam Vanner: The council struggle to set up traffic lights for roadworks on the roundabouts. I think an airport is a stretch!

Cherryl Rowlands: Ridiculous idea. Shrewsbury/Shropshire is beautiful because it has the countryside. It is our secret. An airport will open up things but we will have a town the size of Wolverhampton. Is that what people really want?

Elliott Powell: A train station in Market Drayton would be more beneficial

Paul Gibson Wade: We already have Wolverhampton so don’t need another.