NEWQUAY AIRPORT CLOSURE: "HEADS MUST ROLL"

12.00.00pm GMT Mon 1st Dec 2008

Stephen Gilbert, the Lib Dem prospective MP for Newquay, has said that "heads must roll" over the unexpected closure of Newquay Airport and has called for a full inquiry into what went wrong.

Stephen Gilbert commented:

"There has been a serious failure to properly manage this project and we need now an urgent inquiry that looks at the management, the project consultants, the contractors and the political oversight from County Hall. Whoever is responsible, whether local politicians, senior managers or contractors, they must be held accountable for this failure and heads should roll.

"As well as causing thousands of people serious inconvenience and disrupting business in Cornwall , the failure to get this right is an embarrassment to Cornwall and has exposed local tax-payers to considerable costs.

"If the fault is not with the Council then they should act quickly to recover costs from the consultants or contractors working on the project, and if the responsibility turns out to be with Cornwall Council then those responsible should resign.

"The priority must be to get the airport open again as soon as possible, but those responsible do need to realise they are accountable for their actions and carry the can."