SO MANSTON Airport has been sold for a pound. As the lovely Ed and I agreed, had we known it was going to be so cheap, we could have clubbed together and bought it ourselves.
I have listened with interest to reaction to the news that Ann Gloag, legendary hot-shot business woman, co-creator of the Stagecoach millions and probably fairly terrifying, is the buyer of our local airport.
“Asset-stripper,” says one friend darkly. “It will end up a housing estate,” says another. “Night flights…” drones a third.
I am aware of Mrs Gloag’s reputation for hard-nosed business practice (you don’t get to own two castles by playing tiddlywinks) but I, lover of all things Manston (except of course, you at the back with the eggs, the said night flights. No, I am not asking for those. That’s it – you can put the box down now…) am pushing down any pricklings of unease and choosing to look on the upside.
I am giving Mrs G – the woman who brought us The Loop – the benefit of the doubt.
I am seeing her as a Knightress in shining armour, who will save jobs and create more, bring prosperity to the isle, investment to the Manston infrastructure and ultimately secure the future of somewhere I can fly all over the world from, when I want to be shouted at.
When I came back from Amsterdam this week (in 35 minutes only – indoors within the hour) I was pleased to see the plane was almost full. I hope this means the future for Manston is bright.
And brighter now it’s Gloag-shaped. If so, I’d say we’ve got a bargain. It could be the best pound we never spent.
IT IS the lot of the columnist to receive abuse. Indeed my esteemed colleague Mike would consider us to have failed in our duty, were it otherwise.
So being told by Mr Dennis Franklin I am “a selfish, mean, nasty person” (he writes to me personally as well as to the letters page) with the addition of “Dr Goebbles (sic) (why can the worst of the ranters never spell?) would be proud of you”, is par for the course.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions – even if Dr Goebbels, after one look at my family history, would have dispatched me to the nearest camp. But opinions are one thing – I’m afraid I can be a pedant for the facts. So for those still overexcited by my trip to Manchester by plane from Manston, let me share them with you.
My airfare cost £148.80 (sight of receipt available on request). It was paid on my own credit card, although in due course I will be reimbursed by the magazine I went to Manchester to work for.
My investigations at the time, via the trainline.com (you may know cheaper sites) informed me had I taken a similar journey by train – as I did the previous year – it would have cost, depending on the time of day I travelled, anything from £101.90 to £390. But financial considerations were not my primary reason for flying.
As I explained at the time, I was keen to try out the service from KLM and Manston – so that I could write the very column Mr Franklin so enjoyed.
I did and was delighted. And have done it twice more since, to France and Spain.
“We should be told,” wrote Mr Franklin on the letters page a fortnight ago, when demanding to know who had paid my fare. Dear Sir, you just have been.
You can read the original article at http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Plain-Jane-m-welcoming-Manston-s-new-owner-Ann/story-19988111-detail/story.html.
Your daily record of airport business would make good reading
thank you 🙂
I expect you are now regretting your words! Hardly a Knightress in shining armour now is she!
Hi Dot. I’m not regretting my words because that’s how I felt at the time – as I said in the column, I had pricklings of unease but wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt cos I wanted it so much!! I am totally grieved and bereft at the way it has turned out and depressed that KLM won’t come back whatever happens…. 😦 Love your profile pic. Thanks for reading x
I read this article with interest. Seems your suspicions were spot on! Are you on the campaign group ‘save Manston airport’ on Facebook? Are you able to publicise this tragedy as widely as possible – especially in light of the news of Lydd!!!!! Lydd locals, around 15,000 I believe, have fought hard to protect their wildlife – even taking it to the High Court – but bulldozers will come and build an extended runway etc. Here in Thanet, 15,000 of us love our airport with one of the longest, widest runways and have no wildlife protection to worry about!!!! Crazy? Or conspiracy? NEEDS INVESTIGATING!!!
Yes – what is this all about, Janice? I think it might be something to do with the proximity of Manston to housing, which prevents it being extended. Seem to remember reading something about that. But seems crazy indeed – I do agree. Please keep me posted if you find out anything more…
No this airport has everything going for it. Ann Gloag had other ideas right from the start. It’s criminal. See Observer article today. Join our Facebook page for up to date info – Save Manston Airport. Please publicise as widely as you can.
Have joined facebook group and retweeted article x
Bless you Jane! Go girl!
I never come across this web feed before come to it purely by chance when researching Ann Gloag.
The SMA (Save Manston Airport) Sir Roger Gale MP Laura Sandys MP are doing a nd leader of Thanet district Council Iris Johnston are mounting a great campaign to get this essential airport re-opened.
My beef is that we have here in Kent a leader of Kent County Council who has voiced his opposition to Manston both publicly and in private while having secret meetings with the airports owner Ann Gloag, He paul Carer first denied that he had meetings with her until she let it slip she had meetings with Paul Carter and the then leader of TDC (who is now head of planning) about the possibility of housing on the site.
The more people learn of the back handed way they are trying to pull the wool over the people in the UK andmore so here in Kent the better.