Leader seeks European support for Highlands and Islands air travellers
3rd October 2013
Getting a better deal on air travel for rural regions, such as the Highlands and Islands, was top of the agenda for The Highland Council Leader Drew Hendry when he addressed delegates at the General Assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions in St Malo, Brittany, France.
Councillor Hendry won the support of delegates for further research to be carried out by CPMR for present to the European Commission.
He argued that better transport communications in rural areas are crucial to sustain local economies, including security of links from rural airports, such as Inverness, to hub airport destinations, such as Gatwick or Heathrow, London.
He has robustly challenged the suggestion, through the Highlands and Islands European Partnership (HIEP) that EU Regional Aid should be phased out over the next 10 years through the European Union’s consultation on State Aids to Airports and Airlines. This would pose even greater challenges for the region’s airports.
Councillor Hendry said: “The E.U. wishes to see an end to the eligibility of airports and airlines to financial assistance or regional aid from government and argues that there is duplication in air transport provision and that this is anti- competitive. Under the EU proposals regional aid will be phased out over the next ten years.
“HIEP argues that special dispensation should be given to peripheral airports such as in the Highlands and Islands where there is no high speed land-based alternative to air transport. Here the airports such as Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh are owned by the public sector and require ongoing support to continue to provide regional travel to small and scattered populations and to meet the demands of modern air travel.”
Inglis Lyon, Managing Director for Highlands and Islands Airports, confirmed that the one-size-fits-all proposals are totally disproportionate for a remote region served by routes which have traditionally been marginal. Responding to the consultation, he confirmed that he had outlined his concerns and sought a meeting with the Commission to amplify his argument directly.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
On 27 November 2024 the Community and Places committee will consider a report on play parks in Highland. 94 play parks across Highland including 26 in Caithness are scheduled to close over 5 years.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
On Thursday the 21 November 2024, the Education Committee will be presented with an Education Trust Fund report that asks Members to approve the formation of an Education Trust Fund Sub Committee. There are significant funds held by The Highland Council in trust for the educational benefit within different communities.
At the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 14 November 2024 councillors adopted an ambitious action plan to tackle biodiversity loss and support a nature-positive Highland. The Council's Ecology Strategy and Action Plan Strategy sets out and defines a series of key actions and activities that will assist the Council to deliver positive action to tackle biodiversity loss and start to address the ecological emergency for the benefit of its environment, economy, and communities.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have approved the rural Housing Supplementary Guidance which will now be used to inform all planning advice and decisions. Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Following the decision by members today, I am pleased that we now have a positive, clear and consistent basis for considering and determining rural housing planning applications across the whole of the Highland Council area.
New guidance to support schools and organisations working with children and young people to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies and improve behaviour and relationships has been published. ‘Respect for all' includes updates for staff on how to deal with specific incidents of bullying, including online bullying.
The Vice Chair of the Caithness Committee, Councillor Struan Mackie has expressed his delight at the number of worthwhile local projects that have benefitted from Ward Discretionary Funding in this financial year. All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.
The Caithness Committee have agreed to adopt the modified Core Path Plans for Caithness. At their meeting yesterday members had the opportunity to discuss a report that summarised the review of The Highland Council Core Paths Plan in Caithness.
