A decision on the future of Lydd Airport has been put back months to allow the new managing director more time to look into the paperwork.

Bosses are planning to extend the runway and build a new terminal.

A decision was due on September 24 but Shepway District Council has granted the airport's new managing director Jonathan Gordon, who took up the post at the beginning of this month, an extension until February or March 2010.

Louise Barton of the Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG), which opposes the plans, said: "LAAG neither believes nor supports the explanation provided by Shepway District Council that Mr Gordon requires more time to assess the paperwork.

"Mr Gordon has long been associated with Lydd Airport, being both a director and shareholder. He is therefore already familiar with most of the issues associated with this application.

"This means a further period of house price uncertainty for residents living under the proposed flight paths as the airport is a deterrent to prospective residential property buyers."

Council chief executive, Alistair Stewart, said: “Mr Gordon took up the role of MD on September 1. He asked me to defer the meeting to give him time to review all the paperwork involved in the two applications, including the airport’s response to concerns raised by the council in its published report.

“I appreciate his position and have agreed to re-schedule the meeting, which will now be held in late February or March. A date will be fixed when we have consulted everyone involved in the applications.”

For a special report on the latest Lydd Airport delay, see Thursday’s Kentish Express newspaper.