by Tom Walsh
Durham Tees Valley Airport has come up with a novel approach of helping to bring in extra revenue, converting part of the car park into a caravan storage site.
The airport, situated near Darlington, was once a thriving facility but has seen passenger numbers drop significantly in recent years following a peak that was reached in 2006. Now it only runs a handful of routes including planes to Aberdeen and Amsterdam.
While Thomson Airways does run seasonal flights to Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife, officials are looking at other ways to boost income.
The Northern Echo reported that part of the long stay car park is now surplus to requirements and Peel Holdings, the airport’s owner, has applied to Darlington Borough Council to use the vacant 1.7 hectares for the storage of caravans, motorhomes and other vehicles over the next three years.
Anna Simcock, a development officer working for Peel Holdings, said in a report to planners, published by the source: “A temporary permission is being sought to allow flexibility for when airport visitor numbers increase, enabling this area of the car park to be reinstated to its original use. It is difficult to predict when visitor numbers will increase.”
