His comments on the 50-seater Dash 8 were most interesting and this clean, green and silent plane is now being embraced by most of Europe (except Sheffield of course) for short haul flights.

I'm both sorry and glad, however, to contradict AM on the type of 'plane which flew me from Manchester to Newquay. It was actually a Boeing 737 with a seating capacity of more than double the Dash 8 and still very full (sorry about the anorak!).

Further damning proof that there is a colossal and burgeoning demand out there for domestic flights on which we are going to miss out.

This will become even more apparent when the Olympic Committee are looking for suitable training venues on the run-up to 2012. I can hear it now: let's look at Sheffield, City of Sport, with its fantastic state-of-the-art sporting facilities. That would be ideal - ah, but no airport, we'll have to go elsewhere.

Oh dear, oh dear Sheffield. What opportunities are we throwing away?
The gallant Andrew Cook has tried and, sadly, failed, so please Mr Scriven don't lose this chance to make your mark by bringing our city into the 21st century. For goodness' sake, we are the only major city in Britain without a functioning airport, all the infrastructure is already there, all you have to do is re-open the door - we're relying on you.

Sheffield doesn't neet yet another business park, but it does need an airport.



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