THE Conservative candidate for Cunninghame North in next year’s Holyrood elections says a North Ayrshire Council colleague’s view that Prestwick Airport should be closed is ‘entirely a personal one’.

Jamie Greene was speaking following recent reports that North Ayrshire and Arran Conservative councillor Tom Marshall was reported to have commented on BBC Radio Scotland’s Big Debate that it may be best to close Prestwick Airport.

Mr Greene said: “I spoke to Tom and he said he made it clear that the view he shared last week on the long term viability of Prestwick, when pressed to answer, was entirely a personal one and that he was speaking neither on behalf of the party nor the Glasgow Airport Consultative Committee.

“This is in line with previous Scottish Conservative comments that the SNP needs to implement a viable business model for the airport not endlessly plough taxpayer money into it ad infinitum, with the long term goal to be to offload it back into private hands. I see the importance of Prestwick Airport, the local jobs it creates and the potential for tourism that benefits Ayrshire and the West of Scotland.

“I think there is potential for Prestwick in the long term and that may require an element of patience before the investment starts to see positive return.

“It is disappointing that it is not handling more commercial flights but there are immediate opportunities for cargo, disaster relief, training and private aviation which could be developed further.

“I also think the opportunity for it be used as a Spaceport are very exciting and should be progressed. “I would support the Scottish Government on that.

“I take on-board Tom’s point though. I would like to see a clear strategy and definitive plans for progress to be made at Prestwick to justify the public money going into it. If they can do that then they have my support.“