Doncaster Sheffield-3
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Opens for me !
Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s rescue by a consortium from the Middle East has stalled following a stand-off with owners Peel Group, whose bosses claimed they were unable to verify the names of those bankrolling the bid.
His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Al Hashmi, a prominent executive based in the emirate of Ajman in the UAE, can today be revealed as leading a consortium of parties from the region who have expressed an interest in buying the stricken South Yorkshire airport.
But the approach has unravelled as Peel, the industrial group owned by British billionaire John Whittaker, is understood to have been unable to ascertain the source of the money behind the bid.
Representatives in the UAE insisted that they had provided all the relevant details. Rishi Somaiya, representing Mr Al Hashmi, told the Telegraph that “we are absolutely not interested” in bidding unless permitted by Peel to conduct further due diligence on the airport.
Peel announced earlier this year that Doncaster Sheffield Airport was no longer a viable commercial operation and would be closed.
The decision sparked criticism from local politicians such as Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and Ed Miliband, the former leader of the Labour Party.
Mr Miliband, MP for Doncaster North, accused Peel of not wanting to save the airport and claimed the company had refused to consider a “credible” bid first brokered by council leaders.
Revelations this weekend throw significant doubt about whether a credible bid still exists.
UK lawyers acting for the UAE consortium sent representations confirming proof of funds in a letter to Peel on Monday. However, they are understood to have not met Peel’s requirements, sources said. The group has not set out all the names of the people involved in the consortium, they added.
Part of Peel’s concerns are understood to relate to continued relations between companies in Ajman, where Mr Al Hashmi operates, and Russian businesses following the invasion of Ukraine.
The Ajman Chamber of commerce met Ilya Raevskii, Russia’s Acting Consul General in Dubai, as recently as July “to strengthen economic relations and diversify foreign partnerships”, according to news agency WAM.
Mr Somaiya insisted there was no Russian involvement in the bid, saying: “There is no Russian money.”
He said that although the consortium remained “on standby” and was interested in the airport as an investment opportunity, negotiations had stalled. He added that although the bidding consortium was credible, they had not yet put forward a firm bid.
“Nobody is desperate to buy, and it looks like they're not desperate to sell,” he said.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport traces its history back to Finningley Airfield in 1915. The Royal Flying Corps used it during the First World War as a base from which they could intercept German Zeppelin airships.
The airfield’s main runway was extended to nearly 3km in length, allowing it to host the first posting of Avro Vulcan bombers. The base was also designated a space shuttle emergency landing site. It was converted into a commercial airport in 2005.
Despite Liz Truss vowing to “protect this airport and this infrastructure” during her first Prime Minister’s questions, and the Labour-run South Yorkshire local authority offering to bankroll the site until October 2023, the airport is in the process of being wound-down.
A Judicial Review of the closure is expected to begin this week following a legal challenge by the local council. Officials have also threatened to try and impose a compulsory purchase order to prevent Peel from shuttering the base.
A spokesman for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority said: "It's completely right that Peel is carrying out due diligence as part of their negotiations with interested prospective buyers. We introduced a number of different organisations to Peel following their announcement of a strategic review into operations at Doncaster Sheffield.”
A Doncaster Council spokesman said: "We are unable to comment as it would be inappropriate to do so when there is a judicial review legal process underway."
Peel Group declined to comment.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s rescue by a consortium from the Middle East has stalled following a stand-off with owners Peel Group, whose bosses claimed they were unable to verify the names of those bankrolling the bid.
His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Al Hashmi, a prominent executive based in the emirate of Ajman in the UAE, can today be revealed as leading a consortium of parties from the region who have expressed an interest in buying the stricken South Yorkshire airport.
But the approach has unravelled as Peel, the industrial group owned by British billionaire John Whittaker, is understood to have been unable to ascertain the source of the money behind the bid.
Representatives in the UAE insisted that they had provided all the relevant details. Rishi Somaiya, representing Mr Al Hashmi, told the Telegraph that “we are absolutely not interested” in bidding unless permitted by Peel to conduct further due diligence on the airport.
Peel announced earlier this year that Doncaster Sheffield Airport was no longer a viable commercial operation and would be closed.
The decision sparked criticism from local politicians such as Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and Ed Miliband, the former leader of the Labour Party.
Mr Miliband, MP for Doncaster North, accused Peel of not wanting to save the airport and claimed the company had refused to consider a “credible” bid first brokered by council leaders.
Revelations this weekend throw significant doubt about whether a credible bid still exists.
UK lawyers acting for the UAE consortium sent representations confirming proof of funds in a letter to Peel on Monday. However, they are understood to have not met Peel’s requirements, sources said. The group has not set out all the names of the people involved in the consortium, they added.
Part of Peel’s concerns are understood to relate to continued relations between companies in Ajman, where Mr Al Hashmi operates, and Russian businesses following the invasion of Ukraine.
The Ajman Chamber of commerce met Ilya Raevskii, Russia’s Acting Consul General in Dubai, as recently as July “to strengthen economic relations and diversify foreign partnerships”, according to news agency WAM.
Mr Somaiya insisted there was no Russian involvement in the bid, saying: “There is no Russian money.”
He said that although the consortium remained “on standby” and was interested in the airport as an investment opportunity, negotiations had stalled. He added that although the bidding consortium was credible, they had not yet put forward a firm bid.
“Nobody is desperate to buy, and it looks like they're not desperate to sell,” he said.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport traces its history back to Finningley Airfield in 1915. The Royal Flying Corps used it during the First World War as a base from which they could intercept German Zeppelin airships.
The airfield’s main runway was extended to nearly 3km in length, allowing it to host the first posting of Avro Vulcan bombers. The base was also designated a space shuttle emergency landing site. It was converted into a commercial airport in 2005.
Despite Liz Truss vowing to “protect this airport and this infrastructure” during her first Prime Minister’s questions, and the Labour-run South Yorkshire local authority offering to bankroll the site until October 2023, the airport is in the process of being wound-down.
A Judicial Review of the closure is expected to begin this week following a legal challenge by the local council. Officials have also threatened to try and impose a compulsory purchase order to prevent Peel from shuttering the base.
A spokesman for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority said: "It's completely right that Peel is carrying out due diligence as part of their negotiations with interested prospective buyers. We introduced a number of different organisations to Peel following their announcement of a strategic review into operations at Doncaster Sheffield.”
A Doncaster Council spokesman said: "We are unable to comment as it would be inappropriate to do so when there is a judicial review legal process underway."
Peel Group declined to comment.
Is the allegation from the Council/Councils that Peel has breached the terms if agreements with them when the 'civilianisation' of former RAF Finningley was permitted and public money committed to infrastructure?
I'm left wondering if the term is being used as shorthand for some form court process which is not one of administrative action.
Is the allegation from the Council/Councils that Peel has breached the terms if agreements with them when the 'civilianisation' of former RAF Finningley was permitted and public money committed to infrastructure?
Is the allegation from the Council/Councils that Peel has breached the terms if agreements with them when the 'civilianisation' of former RAF Finningley was permitted and public money committed to infrastructure?
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While I've not read this due to the paywall, it was reported in advance that these articles were coming out, very much pushed by Peel and that talks are continuing. These negotiations are clearly extremely complex and for high stakes. Perhaps explains why the South Yorkshire Mayor was out classed on that front.
Same article not behind a paywall.
I understand DMBC are at the High Court on 23rd to determine whether a Judicial Review will be granted, not the review itself.
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I think that the only flight this morning was to Alicante. Scheduled Dep. time 05.35, Actual Dep. time 06.39. It was a full flight & will be a full return. Its their last ALC flight from DSA.
Ibiza flight was TUI.
Ibiza flight was TUI.
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http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71f...e-2-55885.html
Same article not behind a paywall.
I understand DMBC are at the High Court on 23rd to determine whether a Judicial Review will be granted, not the review itself.
Same article not behind a paywall.
I understand DMBC are at the High Court on 23rd to determine whether a Judicial Review will be granted, not the review itself.
Was the review granted? Have Peel closed the airport?
An application has been made for a judicial review into the decision to shut Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
Applying for the review, Doncaster Council argued that the airport's owners had not left time for a buyer to make a realistic offer.
But site operators Peel Group said no viable offer for the site was made and a judicial review should not go ahead.
On Tuesday, Mr Justice Fordham told Leeds Administrative Court he would announce his decision at a later date.
Applying for the review, Doncaster Council argued that the airport's owners had not left time for a buyer to make a realistic offer.
But site operators Peel Group said no viable offer for the site was made and a judicial review should not go ahead.
On Tuesday, Mr Justice Fordham told Leeds Administrative Court he would announce his decision at a later date.
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PEEL have just terminated ATC staff from Midnight on the 2nd of December.
Against the legal judicial review currently in place to protect the staff, infrastructure etc.
Muddy waters for PEEL.
SB.
Against the legal judicial review currently in place to protect the staff, infrastructure etc.
Muddy waters for PEEL.
SB.
Decision over request for a Judicial Review has been withheld til a later date following an appearance in Leeds Administrative Court on Tuesday.
The airport is still open and a Notam issued yesterday suggests daytime operating hours with the airspace becoming class G outside of those hours. Rumours suggest full closure to happen on 3rd December but I suspect if that is true it would be reliant on the court throwing out the DMBC application by then.
Peel have contested the application with the suggestion that the airport could face insolvency and therefore jeopardise any redundancy packages.
The airport is still open and a Notam issued yesterday suggests daytime operating hours with the airspace becoming class G outside of those hours. Rumours suggest full closure to happen on 3rd December but I suspect if that is true it would be reliant on the court throwing out the DMBC application by then.
Peel have contested the application with the suggestion that the airport could face insolvency and therefore jeopardise any redundancy packages.
DMBC will need to tread carefully, Peel have form and it could end up costing the local taxpayer.
https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/bol...-appeal-costs/
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ATC post
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Rumour now within the DSA walls is PEEL have provisionally accepted an offer, but is subject to due diligence etc.
I cannot personally confirm this but its come from a trusted PEEL source.
Will post more when I can.
SB.
I cannot personally confirm this but its come from a trusted PEEL source.
Will post more when I can.
SB.
Avoid imitations
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Hopefully that is really good news … for a change!
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ATC closes down at 1800 today. Next two days for engineers to safely switch off all equipment. All ATC and ATC Engineers are officially redundant as of 2359 2nd Dec.
All due to DSA, and ATCSL the provider of ATC services for DSA, being unable to agree on a new contract.
All due to DSA, and ATCSL the provider of ATC services for DSA, being unable to agree on a new contract.
Last edited by rubberneck; 30th Nov 2022 at 16:46.
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I for one, want to thank the very helpful and ever cheerful DSA ATCO team for their sterling service over the last fifteen years or so.
Good luck to all.
Good luck to all.