Commenting on the decision by the government to refuse Durham Tees Valley Airport a Regional Growth Fund grant to develop a freight centre, Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North said:
“This is extremely disappointing news and comes just a few short months after the Prime Minister himself gave the airport a vote of confidence and stressed the importance of regional airports to the British economy.
“I plan to raise the issue on the floor of the House of Commons this morning and will ask for the Business Secretary to be brought to the House to explain why this news has been leaked to a newspaper instead of being announced in Parliament where MPs could question him about it and why the Prime Minister’s support counts for nothing.
“We are used to the Government putting the boot in on the Tees Valley but we have got all the more reason to pull together with local authorities, Tees Valley Unlimited, business, MPs and everyone else working with Peel to help them realise the vision they have to sustain and develop our local airport.
“I’m sure Peel didn’t come to our airport just because they thought they might secure a grant for development – now we all need to get in behind the company and ensure we do everything to support them.”