Argyll and Bute MP fears being overtaken in space race
A ROCKET has been sent to Argyll and Bute’s recently appointed chief executive to ensure Kintyre’s spaceport bid is properly supported.
The county’s MP Brendan O’Hara believes the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) bid to host the UK spaceport may be undermined by local authority support pledged to Prestwick by South Ayrshire Council.
Prestwick, the government-owned airport, announced last week almost £250,000 of new investment towards its bid, £120,000 from South Ayrshire Council’s existing budget that will be matched by development agency Scottish Enterprise.
Mr O’Hara has written to Argyll and Bute Council chief executive Cleland Sneddon indicating that the economic importance of securing the spaceport at Machrihanish cannot be overstated.
He said: ‘I asked Mr Sneddon to pledge similar financial support for the MACC bid and have offered to work with him and the council to seek additional support from all other agencies to cofund the MACC bid.
‘I acknowledge the financial constraints in this current climate, but the potential benefit to the peninsula far outweighs what would be a small contribution to funding a successful bid for MACC.
‘The importance of putting all of our collective weight behind this bid is essential and urgent.’
Speaking on the potential for extra financial backing, a spokesperson from the council said: ‘We have already contributed £25,000 and there is potential for additional funding through the Rural Investment Fund.’
Tom Millar, chairman of MACC and Discover Space UK (DSUK), insists the group is working closely with Argyll and Bute Council and is still well placed to win the race for the spaceport.
He said: ‘Argyll and Bute Council is a consortium partner with DSUK working to bring the UK spaceport to Campbeltown. As recently as June 7, we attended a well-received seminar to update councillors on the progress of the bid.
‘We are also talking with a number of other partners as we aim to prepare our full business case for the spaceport.
‘As the only runway-ready bidder to meet the minimum runway criteria we firmly believe we are at the very forefront of the UK’s space race.’