'Outstanding questions' remain over effect of Hial air traffic control proposals on Wick John O'Groats Airport
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Questions remain to be answered over the future of air traffic control in the Highlands, according to a leading Caithness business representative.
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial) is proposing a restructure which would see the service centralised in Inverness and Wick John O'Groats Airport effectively downgraded.
Trudy Morris, the chairwoman of the airport's consultative committee, said the proposal was discussed "in depth" by members at their last meeting.
She said: "We are aware that there remain outstanding questions to be answered. In particular, the committee is concerned about the potential for these proposals to impact on the short term, ad-hoc aviation business that operates from Wick.
"Since then, however, further issues have been raised with the Holyrood petitions committee which we need to understand more fully."
Ms Morris added: "There is an action on Hial to provide further technical aspects of the proposal to the committee in March and we will be discussing what further action is needed.
"Our overriding concern is to ensure operations at Wick can continue unaffected under any new proposed air traffic management system."
She was speaking after north MP Jamie Stone claimed that more than £6 million has been squandered on the project so far.
He is opposed to the centralisation plan and said it would result in the downgrading of Wick John O'Groats Airport.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, hit out after it emerged that £6,598,049 has been spent on plans so far.
That included a total of £2,626,036 was spent on the purchase of New Century House in Inverness, while £341,918 went on consultancy fees.
Mr Stone is calling on all Caithness, Sutherland and Ross candidates to pledge their opposition to the move ahead of the Holyrood election in May.
He said: "Ahead of a forthcoming Holyrood election, I would expect all parliamentary candidates for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross to pledge themselves to lobbying against this centralisation should they be fortunate enough to be elected."
Hial says the plan will ensure the long-term sustainability of all its airports, while securing air services to the Highlands and Islands for generations to come. The company said the programme was "on budget and on schedule."
As reported in Friday's John O'Groat Journal, north MSP Rhoda Grant accused Hial of being "all smoke and mirrors" over its controversial plans when representatives appeared before the petitions committee – a claim strongly denied by the company.
A spokesman said: "Hial has already invested millions of pounds to improve Wick John O’Groats Airport and is committed to its future success.
"We will continue to work closely with Highland Council, aviation partners and the local community to help introduce air services that best meet local needs."
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