Well, here's a surprise - I asked Manston and Infratil and their spin doctors to justify their absurd job figures, and there's been absolute silence. Maybe it's just me - maybe they just won't talk to me. Maybe it would help if YOU asked them...
Here are the email addresses I used, if you can find better addresses, do let the world know by putting them in a comment.
Or you could simply email them this article by using the "EMAIL THIS" link below.
Many thanks in advance for your help.
- Tom Wilson (Chief Executive of Infratil Airports Europe Ltd) admin@infratil.com
- Charles Buchanan (Chief Executive Officer of Manston Airport) charles.buchanan@manstonairport.com
- Andrew Metcalf (Director of Maxim PR) hello@maxim-pr.co.uk
I have become so sickened and angered by the false promises of jobs that Manston keeps trotting out that I decided to force the issue, and throw down the gauntlet.
Manston's business plan features graphs that sweep majestically up to indicate millions of passengers a year, and thousands of jobs.
This business plan is based on the fairytale that 1 million passengers = 1 thousand jobs.
I've written to Charles Buchanan (Chief Executive Officer of Manston Airport), and his boss Tom Wilson (Chief Executive of Infratil Airports Europe Ltd), and Andrew Metcalf (Director of Maxim PR, who as Manston's spin doctor has the thankless task of trying to make a silk purse out of a flying pig's ear).
I've asked them, basically, to put up or shut up - name some airports that actually deliver this thousand-per-million ratio to prove that it is actually achievable. I've invited them to reply to me direct, or leave their replies HERE.
I've copied the letter to local journalists and newspaper editors, so that they can keep an eye what (if anything) happens.
We wait and watch. [23rd Feb 2012]