Call for action over centralisation of Highlands and Islands air traffic control services
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
NORTH politicians have joined council leaders and trade unionists in urging the Scottish Government to discuss controversial plans to centralise Highlands and Islands air traffic control services in Inverness.
They are concerned such a proposal would “remove vital high value jobs from economies that can ill afford to lose them” and impact on the “most precarious communities in Scotland”.
A letter has been written by a cross-party group of MPs, MSPs, community members and trade unionists and includes local MP Jamie Stone, and Highlands and Islands MSPs Rhoda Grant and Ariane Burgess, as well as leaders of the councils in Orkney and Shetland.
Under the HIAL plan, Wick John O’ Groats Airport would be downgraded while others would have their air traffic control services centralised in Inverness.
Prospect, which represents HIAL air traffic control staff, is in dispute with the company over the proposals.
It says the Scottish Government has the power to overrule the plans and points out it has offered a meeting with the affected communities and the minister but stresses that is two months away.
Union negotiator David Avery said: “The refusal of the Scottish Government to engage with this hugely important issue has baffled local communities and left them questioning whether ministers care about the impact of their policies.
“This letter demonstrates the strength of feeling about HIAL’s ill-considered plans. Ministers must meet with us as soon as possible so that we can get on with finding the best way to reform air traffic controls in the Highlands and Islands without causing economic damage," he added.
