CONTROVERSIAL plans for Lydd Airport may be grounded after the axing of 25 jobs.

Bosses admit that a question mark now hangs over a multi-million pound investment that would have created a new terminal building - capable of handling half a million passengers a year - and a runway extension.

They claim that "continued uncertainty" surrounding the future development has forced managers to cut costs.

Nineteen jobs have gone at London Ashford Airport (Lydd) with the loss of a further six at airport subsidiary FAL Aviation.

Shepway council is considering two planning applications which, if approved, would, say airport chiefs, create "large numbers" of jobs and a "successful regional airport".

But LAA managing director Zaher Deir says he could not continue to sustain the current level of operating losses in the face of "a long delay" in its planning applications.

He said: "I can understand objections from some residents and pressure groups for such a development planned at Lydd, but what I cannot understand is the reluctance of local and regional authorities to act positively and to support what has already been approved as part of their structure plans.

"During the past three years we've privately invested more than £20million in modernising the airport and we've created dozens of jobs.

"However, in light of the current situation where we have some residents and pressure groups who are putting all sorts of hurdles in our way, I have been forced to take a long hard look at the finances."

He regretted the redundancies but said he did not have "the luxury of unlimited time to spend years waiting for planning permission".

He added: "Every project has its time and the time for the development of Lydd airport is now."