Airport landed with big bill for repairs (From Warrington Guardian)

Airport landed with big bill for repairs

MANCHESTER Airport has spent tens of thousands of pounds repairing its original runway over the past four years.

But yesterday (Tuesday) bosses were unable to say exactly how much they had paid to fix problems since the second runway opened.

"I can't give an exact figure," said a spokesman. "We're talking tens of thousands of pounds, but that's fairly standard.

"We close the runway on a fairly regular basis to complete general maintenance work. It's pretty routine."

Bosses closed runway one on Sunday for maintenance work which is expected to last until Friday morning.

The airport warned that planes would take off from and land on the second runway between 10pm and 6am, which could force planes to fly over Knutsford.

"As always, the prevailing wind conditions will determine in which direction aircraft will take-off and land," said a spokesman.

Maintenance work on Manchester's runways often includes the removal of rubber that is left when aircraft land.

Bosses said the surface was regularly checked to ensure the remnants of planes' tyres were cleaned away.

"There is a maintenance programme so it fits in with that," said a spokesman.

Manchester could soon compensate Knutsford and Mobberley people whose house prices were affected by the second runway.

Last month Tatton MP George Osborne said airport bosses believed some residents had now submitted enough evidence to consider the claims.

Earlier this year Manchester revealed plans to increase airport capacity by 11 million passengers a year.

But bosses also backed aviation industry leaders' promise to lower perceived noise of new planes by 50% in 15 years.

For information on runway closures call Manchester Airport's community relations department for free on 08000 967967.