I recently received a disappointing response from the Minister for Business and Fair Work in regard to flights between Dundee Airport and London Heathrow.
In August, I submitted a written question to the Government, requesting an intervention to help retain a crucial service from Dundee to Heathrow following news that the current operator, Loganair, is to pull all flights from the airport.
The response from the minister, noted that Dundee City Council are in the process of “developing proposals for a new PSO (Public Service Obligation) air service to London” and that if Dundee City Council (DCC) requests funding, “then the Scottish Government will fully consider that request.”
The Government have once again shown their lack of ambition to help growth in areas of Scotland outside the central belt.
Constituents from across Tayside have written to me, noting their dismay at the proposed axing of flights from Dundee to London.
I am not for retaining something for the sake of it, but it is clear that this is a regularly used service.
The Government had a chance here to step in and provide immediate support. I hope that it will stand by its word and assist DCC with a funding contribution for a future PSO.
Councils are hard pressed enough thanks to cuts to local authority budgets by the Government. A PSO of this scale should see the government working in tandem with DCC, to ensure that regional hubs outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow, are not left behind.
