Manchester Airport in row with Welsh government over removal of advertisment
The sign to promote the Deeside Enterprise Zone and its proximity to the airport was taken down on Sunday
by Tom Bodden
A row has erupted between the Welsh government and Manchester Airport over the removal of an advertisement near Terminal 1.
The sign to promote the business benefits of Deeside Enterprise Zone and its proximity to the airport was taken down on Sunday - four weeks before the campaign was due to end.
The advert was sited on a premium plot on the airport’s busiest road and visible to all passengers leaving Terminals 1 and 2.
But executives at the airport believed it competed with the £800m landmark property development Airport City which is about to begin construction.
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: “The site is a gateway to the Airport City programme and as we begin construction this year, we will be looking to maximise exposure for this project during the early part of 2014.”
Now the Welsh Government has to look for other sites in Manchester to promote Deeside Enterprise Zone.
David Jones, chairman of the enterprise zone board said: “I’m staggered by this decision by the airport really, particularly after contracts had been raised and paid for.
“Do they really think that Deeside is that much of a threat to Manchester Airport – perhaps they do.”
Welsh enterprise minister Edwina Hart announced the eight week campaign at both airports last month as a “good opportunity” to raise awareness of the zone as a hub for advanced manufacturing with key companies like Airbus, Toyota, Tata and UPM.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We signed a contract, in good faith, for this advert to be in place for two months and we expected that to be fulfilled.”
Airport City is hailed as one of the biggest regeneration schemes in the UK since the 2012 Olympic redevelopment in East London. It will provide offices, hotels, advanced manufacturing and warehousing, the website says.
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