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Wick airport needs to be more reliable to attract investment, say trade union reps


By Gordon Calder

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CAITHNESS needs a reliable and more business-friendly airport to attract inward investment in the wake of the decommissioning at Dounreay.

That is the view of local trade union representatives who are concerned about what they claim is the rundown of services at Wick John O'Groats Airport.

They have contacted north MP Jamie Stone and MSP Edward Mountain to express their fears and to underline the importance of the airport to the local economy. Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Gail Ross, has also expressed concern about the airport and would like to see improvements carried out.

Speaking at Wednesday night's meeting of Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council, chairman David Alexander said it is vital to have the commercial and other services supplied by the airport.

The airport has to be more business-friendly to attract investment, members of Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council were told.
The airport has to be more business-friendly to attract investment, members of Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council were told.

"The airport is very important to this county and has to be far more amenable to passengers. I recently had to go south and travelled by car to Inverness and got a flight from there," he said.

Other members agreed. Thelma Mackenzie of Prospect said: "We must have a more reliable airport. The marketing should be aimed at those who use it."

Unison representative Keith Bramall pointed out that the airport had encountered problems with fog twice during the week.

Peter Faccenda, the manager of the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, said efforts are being made to get "a reliable and more business-friendly airport" to help attract inward investment. "We will continue to press our case on that," he said.

Mr Faccenda also pointed out that the importance of the airport to the local economy had been stressed to Scotland's transport minister, Michael Matheson, during his recent trip to Caithness.

In response to a letter written by Mr Mountain, Inglis Lyon, the managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, said: "It goes without saying that our airports, including Wick John O'Groats, play a vital role in supporting the social and economic prosperity of our local communities and I would like to assure you of our commitment to continue to support and enhance the local economy of the Wick area wherever possible."

He added: "Over the last seven years, £9.4 million has been invested at Wick airport and our investment in the airport continues with a further £2.3 million in airfield improvements planned over the next two years.

"However, there are challenges and with that in mind we work closely with airlines to support current airline schedules and in our drive to increase connectivity to meet both business and community requirements for the area."


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