A councillor has made a formal complaint after being refused membership to a body that discusses issues at Cornwall Airport Newquay.
Colan and St Columb Minor Cornwall councillor John Fitter believes he should have a seat at the Cornwall Airport Consultative Forum after being selected by Colan Parish Council to represent the authority.
But the parish council has been refused membership for the past three years by the airport management team, which administers the forum.
Cllr Fitter argues the parish council should have representation as a large amount of the airport estate is within its parish. He stresses there needs to be “transparency” now more than ever following Cornwall Council’s proposal to enter into an exclusivity period with a potential partner Adynaton Asset Management LLP for the future operation and management of Cornwall Airport Newquay and the surrounding 650 acre estate.
The councillor believes the ratepayers of Colan parish are “ill-served” by the current “unfair” and “undemocratic structure” of the forum pointing out the three Cornwall councillors on the panel are all from the Conservative political group.
Cllr Fitter said: “I have been asked by Colan Parish Council to be their representative on this forum but for some very strange reason the parish council has been excluded from membership.
“Newquay Town Council, St Mawgan Parish Council and St Columb Major Town Council have membership. Someone has appointed Cllr Louis Gardner and Cllr Paul Wills to be members also. Bearing in mind that Newquay has already membership so along with Cllr Gardner who is also a member of Newquay Town Council they now have two places, the same is also true for St Columb Major. Cllr Wills is also a member of St Columb Town Council, and that town council also sends a member.
“So why is it that Colan have been excluded for the last three years, and yet Colan parish has a very large amount of the airport estate in its parish.
“Membership of the Consultative Forum should be fair and when Cornwall councillors are appointed it should have a political balance. The present forum is neither fair or has a political balance.
“The residents of Colan are being treated differently to residents of Newquay, St Mawgan and St Columb.
“I did write to the airport managing director asking for the matrix as to how the panel was made up, this was over two years ago and despite follow emails I did not receive any reply or acknowledgement.
“I should also point out that a St Austell Cornwall councillor Cllr Anne Double is also a member and that we now have three Cornwall Councillors on this panel all from the same political group.
“The whole process is a total farce and the people of Colan are paying the price for almost four years of Conservative and Independent Conservative aligned group. Totally undemocratic and with the airport up for sale the need for transparency is greater them ever. The people of Colan have a right for membership of this forum.
“I find the situation regarding the way that the people’s airport is being run to be rather strange. Things will not change this side of May 1 2025, but what I can guarantee is if I am re-elected and there is a change of administration things will change and a breath of fresh air and transparency will flow through the airport management ranks for the betterment of the entire community. Especially the ratepayers of Colan parish who are ill-served by the current unfair and undemocratic structure of the forum as dictated by the present management of the airport.”
The management at Cornwall Airport Newquay has been asked to comment on Cllr Fitter’s concerns.