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Public invited to choose Durham Tees Valley Airport name | Public invited to choose Durham Tees Valley Airport name |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A poll to choose the name of a struggling airport has been launched after a council announced plans to buy it. | |
Durham Tees Valley Airport is currently losing £2.5m a year. | |
Last week, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said he had agreed a deal to buy it for £35m from current owners Peel Group. | |
"If the people get to own this airport, it's only fair they decide what it should be called," Mr Houchen said. | |
The airport, near Yarm, was known as Teesside International from the 1960s until 2004. | |
Mr Houchen told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had been "inundated with emails and messages" requesting a name change since the deal was announced. | |
'Airporty McAirportface' | |
The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) poll presents two options: keep the current name or revert to Teesside International Airport. | |
But members of the public - perhaps inspired by the notorious Boaty McBoatface vote - responded with their own ideas on social media. | |
John Griffiths tweeted: "It's going to end up Airpoty McAirportface (sic), isn't it." | |
Meanwhile, Linsey Carson simply tweeted: "Planey McPlaceface" (sic). | |
Sensing a public relations disaster, Chris Titchmarsh said: "This is going to end well." | |
In 2016, Boaty McBoatface was the runaway winner in a public appeal to name a new polar research vessel. | |
However, the ship was eventually christened RRS Sir David Attenborough, and one of its remotely operated sub-sea vehicles named Boaty instead. | |
TVCA chairman Mr Houchen said "I know there are thousands of people in our region who want to change the name back to Teesside International," he said. | |
The money needed to buy the airport would come from the authority's £513m investment fund. | |
Mr Houchen has also said he would spend a further £5m on land next to the airport, which is also owned by Peel Group and has been approved for 350 new homes. | |
A decision on whether the airport purchase goes ahead will be made by the TVCA on 24 January. | A decision on whether the airport purchase goes ahead will be made by the TVCA on 24 January. |
Its cabinet comprises Conservative Mr Houchen and the five Labour leaders of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Darlington and Stockton councils. | Its cabinet comprises Conservative Mr Houchen and the five Labour leaders of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Darlington and Stockton councils. |
They have called for further details ahead of the vote. | They have called for further details ahead of the vote. |
Labour Middlesbrough MP Andy Macdonald last week questioned whether it was "a good use of public money". | Labour Middlesbrough MP Andy Macdonald last week questioned whether it was "a good use of public money". |
Peel Group had said it had "an agreement in principle, subject to approval by the local authority leaders" and it would "work seamlessly... to ensure a smooth transition". | Peel Group had said it had "an agreement in principle, subject to approval by the local authority leaders" and it would "work seamlessly... to ensure a smooth transition". |
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