The Liberal Democrats seem to have forgotten the desperate need to improve the South West’s infrastructure to boost the economy and create badly needed jobs.
At the party’s conference in Glasgow on Tuesday they voted to continue their opposition to any airport expansion in the South East – which is terrible news for Newquay Airport.
Their leader Nick Clegg had been pushing for a new runway at Gatwick – again terrible news for Newquay Airport which needs an expansion at Heathrow to improve its service to the region.
The Gatwick plan was shot down by members, but either way Tuesday’s vote would, and is, bad news for Cornwall.
The Cornish airport needs to obtain a regular slot for a connection to the capital.
It remains to be seen how much influence the Lib Dem position will actual have on whoever is in Government when the decision is made next year. But it’s clear the future of Cornwall and the South West is not being considered.
Steve Double, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Newquay and St Austell said : “I was surprised to see that our local MP seconding the motion in favour of Gatwick.
“Of the options for expansion it’s obvious that by far the best option for Newquay would be Heathrow.
“The people behind the Heathrow plans have made it clear that, should they get the go ahead, they will make slots available for connections to regional airports and have even named Newquay as one of those they would support.
“Gatwick would be a poor second best. Heathrow is the preferred airport for business users and provides much better onward connections both nationally and for international flights, as well as a more direct connection to the London Underground.
“It was sad to see that not only did the Lib Dems oppose any expansion of airport capacity but our own local MP was backing the wrong horse even if they approved the motion. I will be backing what is best for our local economy and making known my preference for an additional runway at Heathrow.”