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Jobs to go at Shoreham Airport (From The Argus)
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Jobs to go at Shoreham Airport
8:30pm Saturday 6th February 2010
Jobs are being axed and opening hours could be slashed at Shoreham Airport.
The plans announced by airport owner Albemarle Shoreham Airport Limited have sent shockwaves of dismay through staff and many of the businesses based there.
Bosses are conducting what they have described as a “review of airport activities” and said there needs to be a number of redundancies to stem losses at the historic Art Deco airfield.
Although Albemarle refused to say exactly how many jobs would go, a source at the airport told The Argus as many as two people from each department faced the chop.
This includes administration, air traffic control, security and even the fire and safety crew.
Albemarle also admitted that the airport's opening hours are being reviewed but a spokesman added: “We are not prepared to discuss that at present.”
The turmoil at the airport, which is home to more than 50 aviation firms and other businesses, has prompted fears for its long-term future.
But in a statement Albemarle said it had no plans to close Shoreham.
The company bought the airport for a nominal £10 after the collapse of Croydon-based property group Erinaceous, which paid £8.6 million to former joint owners Brighton and Hove City Council and Worthing Borough Council.
Under an agreement with the councils, Albemarle is committed to keeping it running as an airport for 35 years and has spent £4 million on air-side improvement over the next four years.
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Your Say YourArgus
ArthurD, Horsham says...
9:24am Sun 7 Feb 10
Many small airfields get by with fewer staff and more involvement from volunteers etc. Shoreham has always seemed to have a pretention for greater things which has sadly never materialised.
I don't see any threat to it's future as a airfield if the expenditure matches the reality and not the dream. Alternatively find a seriously rich sponsor to invest in expansion.
Any piece of land is tempting to developers but that would a sad waste, there are plenty of other place to build on.
However to open a small station on the railway line that passes the terminal would be an obvious thing to do to encourage more access.
It could also be used more as a venue for events, concerts and so on.
another village idiot, Hassocks says...
12:43pm Sun 7 Feb 10
ArthurD wrote:You make a good point here about the airports' pretentions. Most people see it as a hobby airport, they have no idea how to access what is on offer there. Perhaps if the owners put some effort into advertising the place and making the things you suggest happen, the jobs will come back.
Having learnt to fly at the much busier Elstree airfield, it is possible to operate without professional ATC (though it's a wonderful service to have). Many small airfields get by with fewer staff and more involvement from volunteers etc. Shoreham has always seemed to have a pretention for greater things which has sadly never materialised. I don't see any threat to it's future as a airfield if the expenditure matches the reality and not the dream. Alternatively find a seriously rich sponsor to invest in expansion. Any piece of land is tempting to developers but that would a sad waste, there are plenty of other place to build on. However to open a small station on the railway line that passes the terminal would be an obvious thing to do to encourage more access. It could also be used more as a venue for events, concerts and so on.
Lil, Worthing says...
1:28pm Sun 7 Feb 10
Christophe Hawtree wrote:Perhaps only outdone by London Ashford Airport...
The airport was not a place to take seriously after it began to call itself Brighton City, and that phrase in brackets in the middle of the orginal name Shoreham Airport.
ArthurD, Horsham says...
2:39pm Sun 7 Feb 10
Easing the restrictions on usage (for example allow circuit training on Sundays) would make it more viable. Most airfields are busiest at weekends for leisure users.
micky adams, Brighton says...
8:02pm Sun 7 Feb 10
Christophe Hawtree, Hove says...
8:13pm Sun 7 Feb 10
micky adams wrote:Is "Brighton", or whatever one calls it, a "major city"?
Brighton will need an airport with a rail link in the future as will most major cities in the UK. Wise up or get left behind.
bug eye, hove says...
8:54pm Sun 7 Feb 10
UglyAmerican, Hotlanta says...
12:00am Mon 8 Feb 10
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Christophe Hawtree, Hove says...
10:03pm Sat 6 Feb 10