Doncaster Sheffield Airport to reopen?

[mpthomson]

Oh absolutely. The most viable option (in my opinion at least) is turning one of the closed routes into a busway, but we’re going off topic. That might be a thread idea though

A busway would also be entirely unviable. All the existing track bed in any of the populations that it would serve (only Stamford Bridge, Pocklington and Market Weighton in reality, the rest of the route is through empty countryside) has already been built on.

 

[pug1]

Ah well, by Friday morning Ros Jones is virtually certain to be re-elected as Doncsster mayor from 12 candidates. See; https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/mayor.doncaster.2025-05-01/mayor-of-doncaster/

She is a very determined fighter for DSA and none of the other candidates could oppose it. That implies strong support from Doncaster and I feel sure that's correct. Whether the electorate understands complex financial arrangements is another issue. Many can make unsubstantiated accusations of bias,, fraud and back handers. They can judge viabilty on the strength of their flight to Malaga in 2019 when they had the airport terminal and car park almost to themelves.

Meanwhile other transport spending in South Yorkshire could benefit more people more often by utilsing the apparently earmarked funds elsewhere. But there'd be hell to pay if it was seen to be benefitting Rotherham or Barnsley more than Doncaster. Sheffield's Chamber of Commerce seemingly supports DSA.

Bookies appear to be favouring the Reform candidate (as of yesterday) but I’m not sure where they get their data from. Ros Jones is playing the airport card and knowing Doncaster they’ll only go Labour (with Reform possibly a close second), unless Reform really do manage to make the predicted gains. The only chance of the airport reopening is by having Ros Jones in the seat because of the political alliances with SYMCA. With that said the independent financial scrutiny being undertaken is supposed to not be a foregone conclusion. I therefore wonder, if Jones is re elected is the airport a dead cert to reopen? Coppard could still drop a clanger when the outcome of the independent financial review is concluded ‘in the summer’. Even then, I’m not convinced any airlines have planned for a next year entry into DSA because of the uncertainty surrounding it.

 

[edwin_m]

The only chance of the airport reopening is by having Ros Jones in the seat because of the political alliances with SYMCA. With that said the independent financial scrutiny being undertaken is supposed to not be a foregone conclusion. I therefore wonder, if Jones is re elected is the airport a dead cert to reopen? Coppard could still drop a clanger when the outcome of the independent financial review is concluded ‘in the summer’.

That strikes me as a high risk strategy for Ros Jones going forward. If the airport doesn't happen then other candidates can blame her (or wider Labour) for failing to deliver it. If it does then they can blame her for creating a money pit.

 

[pug1]

That strikes me as a high risk strategy for Ros Jones going forward. If the airport doesn't happen then other candidates can blame her (or wider Labour) for failing to deliver it. If it does then they can blame her for creating a money pit.

By the time it becomes obvious that everyone has been sold a dud she’ll be long into retirement. Coppard is the one (being the gatekeeper of the Gainshare) that needs to be careful here, because if he releases the funding in spite of advice to the contrary and then it goes wrong..

Ros Jones doesn’t really have a clue, she keeps trotting out statements where she ‘knows’ it can and will be a success. However I understand her statements are written for her…

This is a problem with short termism in politics. Say what you need to to get voted in. Says nothing for long term strategic decision making which I think needs safeguarding somehow.

 

[mpthomson]

Bookies appear to be favouring the Reform candidate (as of yesterday) but I’m not sure where they get their data from. Ros Jones is playing the airport card and knowing Doncaster they’ll only go Labour (with Reform possibly a close second), unless Reform really do manage to make the predicted gains. The only chance of the airport reopening is by having Ros Jones in the seat because of the political alliances with SYMCA. With that said the independent financial scrutiny being undertaken is supposed to not be a foregone conclusion. I therefore wonder, if Jones is re elected is the airport a dead cert to reopen? Coppard could still drop a clanger when the outcome of the independent financial review is concluded ‘in the summer’. Even then, I’m not convinced any airlines have planned for a next year entry into DSA because of the uncertainty surrounding it.

Bookies have been a lot more accurate than pollsters in predicting election outcomes over the last couple of decades, however we'll wait and see!

 

[daodao]

Labour's Ros Jones has retained the Doncaster mayoralty with a narrow majority of just 698 votes over Reform. So the futile attempt to reopen the airport is likely to continue.

 

[pug1]

Labour's Ros Jones has retained the Doncaster mayoralty with a narrow majority of just 698 votes over Reform. So the futile attempt to reopen the airport is likely to continue.

Yes, sadly. I’m personally more concerned today with the ground Reform appear to be making. However at just 698 vote majority it suggests the airport is not the priority for the people of Doncaster.

It will now rely on the money being made available and that’s up to Oliver Coppard of SYMCA to decide.

 

[weeklycommuter]

Labour's Ros Jones has retained the Doncaster mayoralty with a narrow majority of just 698 votes over Reform. So the futile attempt to reopen the airport is likely to continue.

Yes, sadly. I’m personally more concerned today with the ground Reform appear to be making. However at just 698 vote majority it suggests the airport is not the priority for the people of Doncaster.
It will now rely on the money being made available and that’s up to Oliver Coppard of SYMCA to decide.

AIUI the Reform and Conservative candidates who came second and third also supported reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport so if either had won instead there would still have been a Mayor of Doncaster who supports reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The real question is whether SYMCA will make the money available.

 

[ainsworth74]

Just to nip it in the bud (though I'm sure no-one was going to anyway ) but any posts about the recent elections in this thread should only be how that might or might not effect the future of this white elephant airport. We have threads in General Discussion for wider chat about the elections themselves and politics in general.

 

[pug1]

AIUI the Reform and Conservative candidates who came second and third also supported reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport so if either had won instead there would still have been a Mayor of Doncaster who supports reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The real question is whether SYMCA will make the money available.

The money would only ever be made available had Ros Jones won, she made a huge deal about this in the last couple of days with almost hourly updates on her social media feeds. I just don’t think it’s as high on the priority list of people in Doncaster it’s being made out to be. It’s nothing more than a plaything for a couple of council execs who have no acumen in business let alone the aviation and airport business.

MAI attended the recent ‘Routes’ conference in Seville and made a point about it being in support of DSA on their LinkedIn pages. There were two reps there. This is misleading, MAI of course will attend because they have a number of airports under their charge, but the Routes conferences are usually to grow existing relationships and not create new ones. I felt it was a bit disingenuous.

I understand they are being paid almost £40,000 per month for their services. This seems pennies when you consider other such ‘partnerships’ so I do wonder how much resource is being allocated to it and how serious they really are about the endeavour.

 

[weeklycommuter]

The money would only ever be made available had Ros Jones won, she made a huge deal about this in the last couple of days with almost hourly updates on her social media feeds. I just don’t think it’s as high on the priority list of people in Doncaster it’s being made out to be. It’s nothing more than a plaything for a couple of council execs who have no acumen in business let alone the aviation and airport business.

MAI attended the recent ‘Routes’ conference in Seville and made a point about it being in support of DSA on their LinkedIn pages. There were two reps there. This is misleading, MAI of course will attend because they have a number of airports under their charge, but the Routes conferences are usually to grow existing relationships and not create new ones. I felt it was a bit disingenuous.

I understand they are being paid almost £40,000 per month for their services. This seems pennies when you consider other such ‘partnerships’ so I do wonder how much resource is being allocated to it and how serious they really are about the endeavour.

Despite Labour winning the vote for Mayor Reform won control of Doncaster Council so I assume that means no money from SYMCA to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. There is after all plenty of evidence that reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport would not be a good use of taxpayers' money.

 

[pug1]

Despite Labour winning the vote for Mayor Reform won control of Doncaster Council so I assume that means no money from SYMCA to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. There is after all plenty of evidence that reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport would not be a good use of taxpayers' money.

An article in the Yorkshire Post today suggest that an SYMCA spokesperson has confirmed that the business case is being scrutinised by an ‘independent aviation consultant’ currently. This could be the start of the end as it might be a management if expectations exercise. I’m not entirely sure how it works at the moment, as the previous administration apparently voted unanimously in favour of reopening the airport will it stick or will it still be subject to scrutiny if the new councillors coming through?

 

[thejuggler]

Despite Labour winning the vote for Mayor Reform won control of Doncaster Council so I assume that means no money from SYMCA to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. There is after all plenty of evidence that reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport would not be a good use of taxpayers' money.

Donny is an unusual set up.

Council, but elected local mayor not a leader and part of SYMCA which is all South Yorkshire councils, so the political games will be interesting now Reform represent one of the four SYMCA Councils (and contribute to its budget), but they don't get to choose the council leader.

 

[Killingworth]

Donny is an unusual set up.

Council, but elected local mayor not a leader and part of SYMCA which is all South Yorkshire councils, so the political games will be interesting now Reform represent one of the four SYMCA Councils (and contribute to its budget), but they don't get to choose the council leader.

You're right!

Elected Labour Mayor of Doncaster with Reform council, within South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, SYMCA, with elected Labour Mayor who has to juggle limited funds between 4 constituent authorities, all jealous of the others.

Rotherham and Barnsley are Labour strongholds, or certainly were in 2024. Sheffield has become marginal between Labour, Lib Dems and Greens, currently under no overall control.

Any funding for the airport that might be spent elsewhere will be very carefully looked at in all 4 authorities.