Last-minute plea by man with airport revamp plans

COUNCIL chiefs are granting a long-term lease to the operators of Swansea Airport despite a last-minute plea from a businessman to market the site to other bidders.

- RICHARD YOULE Senior local democracy reporter

Businessman Michael Henry said in a written question that his company had £50 million to invest in the airport and that the council's cabinet had previously said a competitive tender would take place.

At a meeting on December 11 cabinet decided to grant a group called Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance (SASA), which have been running the airport on an interim basis since September 2024, a long-term lease on commercial terms. This is subject to negotiations which, if unsatisfactory, would result in the airport being marketed.

The decision was made in closed session after a dramatic start to the meeting when Mr Henry's lengthy question was read out by a council officer.

Mr Henry said SASA should "be commended on what is clearly a heroic effort to keep the place going", but he claimed no improvements had been made apart from grass-cutting and one of the run ways being painted.

He asked why the council's position about going out to market had in his view "moved so drastically", and said no other parties have had the chance to submit a competitive tender.

Mr Henry said his company had £50 million of capital in readiness to relay the runways, install lighting, and look to bring in "instrumental approach procedures" which would "raise potential for short-sector light commercial traffic in the future" as well as protecting the existing flying and skydiving clubs.

Mr Henry said he had spoken to two SASA volunteers, and had tried to contact the council's estates department without success. He urged the authority to go out to tender, claiming that not doing so would look like the estates department opting for "the path of least effort".