Medway could become a dynamic business area like Stockholm or Helsinki if it had an international airport, according to a leading business forecaster.

Professor Richard Scase, pictured left, told a growth seminar hosted by Rochester Cathedral Business Guild in Chatham Historic Dockyard that his dream was an airport on the Isle of Grain.

Politicians had dismissed the idea of an airport on Grain, or in the Thames Estuary – as proposed by London Mayor Boris Johnson - but it would create thousands of jobs, especially those in semi-skilled activities which were needed in the county.

Stockholm and Helsinki had higher rates of entrepreneurial growth than California because of access to airports and global markets.

"We don't have that in Medway and Kent," said Prof Scase, who is based in Canterbury and speaks at top business and economic conferences worldwide.

"We're on the wrong side of London. An international airport on the Isle of Grain should be properly looked at and not rejected out of hand on 'emotional' grounds. He urged politicians to lead public opinion and promote the economic benefits of an airport."

Pictured: Sci-fi vision for an estuary airport

But Medway councillor David Carr said a proper analysis had been carried out and it did not favour an airport.

He accepted that many business people favoured an airport but it was the politician’s job to respect the wishes of Medway residents.

"We represent the people and the people don’t want it so we have to support the people," he said.