Todd wants talks with HIAL on the future of operations at Wick John O' Groats airport

NORTH MSP, Maree Todd, intends to hold talks with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) about the future of operations at Wick.

The Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP wants "a full update" on the company's spending priorities after it confirmed it is "to scale back" its air traffic modernisation plans in response to funding challenges. The decision follows the Scottish Government’s strategic spending review. HIAL operates and maintains 11 airports in the Highlands and Islands, including Wick John O' Groats, for the Scottish Government.

The company presented a paper to the board last month, highlighting the impact of "the considerable gap between the funding available and the company’s operational and strategic plans, including its air traffic modernisation proposals."

Company chairwoman, Lorna Jack said: "Our overriding focus is to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable aviation services for the communities we serve."

But she stressed: "Like many other businesses, HIAL must re-appraise priorities and spending options and make difficult decisions based on the extraordinary circumstances we are all facing as global economic pressures impact our day-to-day activities and our future plans.

"The board is considering several options to help address the current fiscal position and decided one of the options will be to scale back air traffic modernisation plans for the duration of the strategic spending review. This aligns with the five-year review agreed with the trade unions in January this year.

"The HIAL board remains in dialogue with Transport Scotland regarding the reduction of funding and its effect on frontline service delivery."

It is understood the review which was being carried out at Wick John O' Groats and Benbecula airports as part of the proposals will continue despite the funding cutbacks. It is also believed that around £4 million was spent on the modernisation plans over several years although the figure was reported to be as high as £9 million.

Ms Todd described the economic situation as "extremely challenging" and said the Scottish Government has to re-prioritise spending as rising inflation means the devolved budget is worth £1.7 billion less in real terms than it was last December.

"It would be wrong to speculate without knowing the full details of HIAL’s adapted spending priorities but I intend to meet with representatives from HIAL to receive a full update and to discuss the future of operations at Wick John O’Groats Airport," said the SNP MSP.

Thurso and northwest Caithness Highland councillor, Matthew Reiss, said it is "pretty much inevitable" HIAL is facing cutbacks to its budget as is other parts of the public sector in Scotland.

He pointed out that the deputy First Minister recently outlined there will be budget cuts of £500 million. "That was an upfront and honest acknowledgement of the financial situation we face and it is very ominous. It is worrying if the government continues to reduce expenditure as it is always the remotest areas that suffer first and the most."

Mr Reiss said if the flights from Wick to Aberdeen prove a success and the route to Edinburgh is restored there could be good news for Caithness but if jobs are cut that would be bad news for the area.

However, he said it was heartening to see the armed forces making use of the airport recently and felt the facility could be regarded as "strategically important" for the military.

HIAL planned to centralise its air traffic control system in Inverness but there was widespread opposition to the scheme from the Prospect union, politicians and the public over concerns about the relocation of high-skilled jobs from economically vulnerable areas and the potential impact on safety.

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