The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport has passed its last legislative hurdle after councillors approved £57million in borrowing to support the project.
A round of applause broke out in the City of Doncaster Council chamber after members voted by majority to green light the borrowing.
The Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones, whose election campaign in May centred around the reopening of the airport, said: “I cannot emphasise enough the number of people who are just saying ‘just get on with it’ and ‘less talk more action’.
“Fully reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport is set to be the largest single investment in Doncaster for more than a generation, with unrivalled economy opportunities for our residents and businesses, it has gone through scrutiny and extensive due diligence over the last 12 months and now I just want to see our airport fully reopened.”
The proposal received cross-party support, with the Labour group’s 13 votes supported by a number of Reform UK councillors.
Cllr Guy Aston’s party was divided on the issue, despite warnings in party WhatsApp groups from the party whip that anything other than a vote for the funding would lead to suspension.
Cllr Steve Cox’s Conservative group voted near unanimously against the borrowing. Cllr Cox did not whip his party on the issue.
Fellow Conservative, Cllr Nick Allen, told the chamber: “This process highlights the inept way we go about making decisions in this town.
“There has been no true scrutiny here at all and for anyone to suggest otherwise is a white-wash.
“This proposal is rather similar to taking out a credit card to pay someone else’s mortgage… the only winners here are Peel.”
The £57m in borrowing will be used to help rectify cashflow issues with the near £200m in public funding allocated to the reopening.
Gainshare funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is only delivered in £6m-per-year instalments, lasting 25 years.
Council officers have previously explained that the £6m will not be enough to cover all costs in the early years of reopening and the borrowing is needed to pay the difference.
In theory, it should mean Doncaster Council, and its subsidiary Fly Doncaster Ltd, should have more gainshare funding than it needs further down the line.
