A war of words has broken out between the Ukip leader of Thanet council and campaigners pressing for Manston to be re-opened as an airport.

The extraordinary clash comes as the council faced accusations of dragging its feet over pursuing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the airport, now owned by investors who plan to redevelop it as a business and residential site.

The letters indicate relations between the council and campaigners have reached a low ebb.
It remains unclear whether any progress has been made with the American consortium RiverOak that wants to act as the council’s indemnity partner.

The spat began with an open letter from Dr Beau Webber, chairman of the Save Manston Airport group to council leader Chris Wells.

“If you cannot find the courage of your pre-election convictions and sign this indemnity agreement to protect the council, we ask you to step aside." - Beau Webber

In it, he questions why there has been no public up-date on talks between Riveroak and the council and demands his resignation, saying:

“If you cannot find the courage of your pre-election convictions and sign this indemnity agreement to protect the council, we ask you to step aside.”

It follows an announcement by the council and RiverOak last month that for 30 days, any news on progress over the CPO would be made jointly.

Dr Webber says that since the 30-day period has passed: “It seems perfectly reasonable for Save Manston Airport and the good people of Kent to have expected some up-dates by now. The reality is we have had no further statement whatsoever from TDC (the council) during these 30 days.”

But council leader Chris Wells retaliated in uncompromising language, challenging the campaign group to “crowd source” to act as guarantors for a CPO.“

You claim it is safe...so what can dedicated campaigners do to relieve the perceived risk to the council taxpayer? Why not use the strength in numbers....[to] crowd fund it as guarantors? 9000 guarantors, supporting the indemnity partner at £1,000 each could create a guarantor cushion of£9m. As you constantly tell us, there is no risk, it’s a risk free win-win.”

"As you constantly tell us, there is no risk, it’s a risk free win-win” - Cllr Chris Wells, Ukip council leader

In a statement last month, the council and Riveroak said:

“We jointly acknowledge there are a number of points to be negotiated and settled prior to indemnity partner status and any CPO, and are agreed these confidential negotiations are best conducted in private."

"Thus, for a period of at least the next 30 days, updates on progress will be made, as with this statement, in a jointly agreed wording, appearing simultaneously on our websites.”

Since that time, there have been no joint statements.