Council slammed over its handling of Manston Airport

A council has been strongly criticised by a committee of MPs over how it handled the sale of an airport in Kent.

The Transport Select Committee slammed the council for the way it handled Manston Airport saying it "failed to fulfil its strategic oversight function".

In a report out today, it said the council did little to support Thanet District Council in their attempts to buy the airport, despite publicly saying they would.

The motivations of Ann Gloag, the airport owner, have also been brought into question about whether she ever intended to run it as an airport.

In the report, Sir Roger Gale MP said: "I believe now that I was completely misled, that I was lied to and that Mrs Gloag had no intention whatsoever of running this as an airport, and every intention of seeking to turn it into an asset-stripping property development."

The report also says Ms Gloag should publish information about the joint venture agreement made between herself and Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner.

It says this will make it "clear who would benefit from the proposed redevelopment of Manston and to repudiate allegations of asset-stripping."