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* * * News for 2nd September 2003 * * *

Rochester South and Horsted: 2nd September 2003

aeroplaneExtension of lease for Rochester Airport

Interim lease extension granted to Rochester Airport operators while long-term lease is negotiated.

As the result of a very constructive meeting between Rochester Airport plc, the chairman of the statutory Rochester Airport Consultative Committee and Medway Council's Leader and Deputy Leader, a short-term extension of the current lease has been drawn up. This will extend the expiry of the lease by eighteen months—from its original date of January 2004 to July 2005.

This was agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 2nd September 2003; and will be actioned a week from that date unless the Cabinet decision is called-in by opposition group Overview and Scrutiny members, which is possible. Such a call-in would delay the actual lease extension by several weeks, and possibly even a couple of months.

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader Cllr Alan Jarrett promised at the Cabinet meeting that the Conservative administration would ensure that the long-term lease would be dealt with "with dispatch" so that negotiations with the airport's operatoing company can be concluded well within the new time-scale.

Both the interim lease extension and the firm commitment to a long-term future for flying at Rochester Airport will give confidence to the airport operators and their shareholders, and also to the flying schools and other organisations on the airport site.