I have been amazed to find the Stobart Group appears to be having similar problems at Southend Airport to those here in Carlisle.

There’s considerable opposition to both developments, and a broad understanding among the public that these developments are more about Stobart developing its freight services than the airports. The other similarity is that both councils are Conservative-led, and both sets of councillors seem hell bent on ignoring their electorate.

Andrew Tinkler, Stobart chief executive officer, would have those of us who oppose his plans for Carlisle believe we are alone. It’s nice to know this isn’t true.

Carlisle Airport is in green belt land and has part of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site passing through its northern edge.

Yet this hasn’t stopped our Conservative councilors giving the group carte blanche to build an HQ at Carlisle.

We are also subjected to partisan comments in support of Stobart’s plans for world domination.

At one point, a Canadian company said it wouldn’t locate a plant in Cumbria unless the council approved plans for Carlisle Airport.

The company turned out to have two employees and hasn’t been heard of since.

Has it offered to build anything in Southend yet?

Malcolm Craik
Brampton
Cumbria