Leuchars plan could take off

Sir, – I endorse John Phimister’s letter (Courier, June 19) regarding Edinburgh Airport congestion.

Whilst it is of course commendable that new airline routes to all parts of the globe (viz China) are opening up to make Edinburgh a major transport hub, the infrastructure to support such a scenario is falling way behind.

The road system around the airport is becoming increasingly congested in all directions and the airport facilities are always lagging behind the passenger throughput.

Numbers grow month on month with the site now handling some 13 million passengers annually which is way beyond its current capacity.

The result is more traffic jams, passenger queues, overcrowding and delays – none of which create a favourable first impression on visitors to Scotland or frustrated locals.

Recently I was waiting for my luggage for as long as it took to fly from Southampton.

This situation was no doubt compounded during the Highland Show causing tailbacks northwards over the Queensferry Crossing hitting the ever-growing numbers of tourists to Scotland.

There have been several calls over the years in this newspaper for the establishment of a regional airport at Leuchars (capable of handling any size of aircraft) to serve the east of Scotland north of the Forth.

Angus, eastern Perthshire, Dundee (soon to be with its V&A) and north-east Fife, centred on St Andrews, which attracts huge numbers of visitors, would all benefit.

The railway station at Leuchars provides excellent connectivity in all directions.

This in itself will reduce traffic flow over the Forth significantly.

There is a clear need for a proper feasibility study to establish whether a case can be made and which destinations in UK and beyond would be economically viable, involving central and local government, MOD, airlines and a public survey.

Perhaps the establishment of a public survey would provide a good starting point for negotiations.

Ian Crombie. Keepers Wood, Over Rankeilour, Cupar.

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The road system around the airport is becoming increasingly congested in all directions and the airport facilities are always lagging behind the passenger throughput