Stobart move may be back on the cards

Jun 20 2008 by Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Daily Post

PLANS to move hundreds of Stobart Group jobs to Cheshire could be back on the cards after the Government announced an inquiry into plans for a new group headquarters at Carlisle.

Stobart had planned to consolidate its Cumbrian head office operations into a redeveloped Carlisle Airport – and chief executive Andrew Tinkler said that, if planning permission for the development was not granted soon, then the group could move south.

In April, Carlisle City Council approved the airport plans – but they have now been called in for a public inquiry by Government Office for the North West.

The company, which already employs hundreds of staff in Cheshire, is now considering its options.

Company chief executive Andrew Tinkler told the Daily Post earlier this year that, if the airport plan did not go ahead, he would be happy to move the group’s base to Widnes, where it is developing the £80m Mersey Multimodal Gateway project.

He said in April: “If the airport doesn’t come off, then it’s quite easy for us to move all the HQ down to Widnes.”

And Mr Tinkler has told Cumbrian media that any lengthy delay waiting for a public inquiry could scupper the airport plans as he needs to make a speedy decision over Stobart’s future.

Carlisle Airport director Richard Gordon said: “We are bitterly disappointed because we had some very high-level support from the NWDA, Cumbria Tourism, the CBI, Chambers of Commerce and MPs.

“We need to understand exactly what the issues are. We then need to consider what our own options are before we reach any final decisions.

“We won’t rush any decisions. We’ll take a few days.”

Stobart, which listed on the Stock Exchange last year after its reverse takeover of Westbury Property Fund, employs around 500 people in and around Warrington. It also owns haulage firm O’Connor Group, in Widnes.

The airport is owned by Mr Tinkler and Stobart’s chief operating officer, William Stobart, through their company WAD Holdings.

In March, Stobart agreed an option to buy the airport for up to £15m, dependent on planning permission being granted.

alistairhoughton