Yeadon Liberal Democrat Councillors Ryk Downes, Colin Campbell and Sandy Lay say they are bemused by the proposal to relocate Leeds Bradford Airport, which appears to have come from Wakefield Council and is supported by Leeds City Council Leader Keith Wakefield.

Cllr Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said:

“We are surprised that administration councillors in Leeds are supporting their Wakefield colleagues, particularly as we have just agreed that spending on improving the road network round the airport is a priority and the money it would take to build a new airport would be better spent on a rail connection from Yeadon to Leeds and Bradford.

The current airport is not ideal but it continues to expand and makes a significant contribution to the local economy, a fact which must not be lost on Cllr Wakefield as surely he must understand that closure would be devastating.”

Cllr Sandy Lay (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said:

“The airport is a major employer in the area and the loss of local jobs would be significant. Cllr Wakefield should be more careful with his words. His careless talk not only jeopardises current jobs and prosperity but places at risk future investment in the airport. After all, who would want to invest in the airport with the ‘shadow’ of a move hanging over it? Added to this, the city council would have to spend millions of pounds of our money in effect to buy the existing airport and presumably millions constructing a new one.

Cllr Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said:

“There are a number of issues with the current airport and its surrounding business. However if it were closed, as a brown field site, it would become available for housing development. Building between four and five thousand extra houses at the edge of the greenbelt would cause major highways and infrastructure issues for Yeadon and surrounding areas. Quite frankly it is a barmy idea.”