Sir, – It is now one year since Peel’s masterplan was adopted by Durham Tees Valley Airport. So what has happened since?

We were told that the planning application for the 400 houses to fund the airport’s development would be submitted around Easter 2014 but there is still no sign of it. Meanwhile, opposition to any further housing in Middleton St George is mounting. Aircraft dismantler Sycamore went into administration and Cleveland Police announced its helicopter base is to shut.

We have seen the start-up of a skydiving company, microlight and flying schools and conversion of surplus space in the terminal into six offices. Small beer in the scheme of things which is unlikely to save the airport. There has also been an advertising campaign, a new website and a reconfigured airside lounge but despite all that passenger numbers on the Amsterdam and Aberdeen routes fell by about seven per cent in each of the last two months.

Peel continues to uses taxpayers’ money to fund projects (£5m grant recently secured for the south side access road) and still seems very reluctant to invest in its own plan.

A business travel survey was launched last month to understand local needs but why was that not done 18 months ago when developing the masterplan?

The overall impression is a veneer of low-cost activity masking little real progress in turning the airport’s fortunes around. The masterplan highlighted the importance of achieving a viable airport as quickly as possible but there does not appear to be much urgency in practice.

Stephen Mitchell

West Dyke Road, Redcar.