A EUROPEAN Commission investigation is to be held into the circumstances surrounding the closure of Sheffield City Airport.

It follows a campaign by pressure group Save City Airport Movement, which presented evidence to District Auditor Sue Sunderland and led to her criticising Sheffield City Council for missing inconsistencies in a key report about the airport's financial viability.

The campaigners - known as SCAM - allege the council and airport operator Peel did not do enough to attract new airlines after the last scheduled service pulled out in 2002.

The 999-year lease agreement for the airport site, made in the 1990s, said it had to be kept open for a decade but if it was not making a profit by that time, it could be closed and the land transferred from the council to the operator for £1.

The airport closed six months ago this week, on April 30, and the runway is set to be dug up to make way for a business park...[MORE] (Source: Sheffield Star)

A public inquiry into the failure of Sheffield City Airport would be too late to change its fate and would waste taxpayers' money, Sheffield Council leader Paul Scriven has decided.

The Liberal Democrat politician has withdrawn support for a hearing, despite previously saying one should be held.

He said today: "The effect of an inquiry will not overturn the decisions that have been made and will probably unearth nothing more than we already know.

"It would cost thousands of pounds and would not be a good use of taxpayers' money."

He added: "As sad as the loss of the airport is, it's now time to ensure this mistake never occurs again and move on...[MORE] (Source: Sheffield Star)