Whistle-blower raised safety and funding questions as council insists no formal offer was made

SWANSEA COUNCIL l has denied claims that it turned down a £50m investment proposal for Swansea Airport, insisting it has not been formally approached by anyone other than the Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance (SASA) with a detailed offer.

The clarification comes after concerns were raised with the Herald by a whistleblower, who alleged biased treatment in favour of SASA, questioned operational standards at the airport, and suggested taxpayers may be indirectly funding its operation.

In a statement, a Swansea Council spokesperson said Cabinet had agreed to grant a long-term lease to SASA following a report outlining options for the site after a period of interim arrangements.

The spokesperson said the decision built on progress made since July last year, when SASA took temporary control of the airport after the previous operator surrendered its lease, allowing the site to remain open.

Council outlines reasons for lease decision

According to the council, since taking over, SASA has reinstated the airport’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) aerodrome licence following a successful audit, improved operational standards and compliance, introduced new amenities including a café, and attracted interest from businesses looking to relocate to the site.

SASA will be offered a lease on commercial terms, subject to independent valuation, with the council stating this will ensure best consideration as landlord.

“The airport had faced an uncertain future before we began working with SASA to put in place a management plan,” the spokesperson said.

Cabinet was told that pursuing alternative options would have required taking the site to market and reapplying for a CAA licence, which could have led to disruption and uncertainty.

Investment and taxpayer funding claims denied

Addressing claims that a £50m investment offer had been ignored, the council said: “We’ve not been formally approached by anyone other than SASA with any detailed offers for the operation of the airport.”

The spokesperson added that the council operates an “open door policy” and any interested party can request a meeting to discuss investment opportunities at any time.

The council also rejected suggestions that taxpayers are subsidising the airport, stating: “We plan to offer no financial support as part of any future agreement. The lease will be on commercial terms; all occupational costs will be an obligation of SASA.”

Safety and environmental concerns

The whistleblower also raised concerns about fire cover, staffing, and an alleged environmental incident involving firefighting foam entering drains.

In response, the council said the airport is a licensed facility and operational matters fall under the responsibility of the licensee and the CAA as the regulatory body. Officers had sight of the recent “positive CAA audit” which led to the reinstatement of the licence.

The council added that its officers had not been asked to investigate any recent environmental incidents.

Background to lease decision

The council’s decision follows a turbulent period for Swansea Airport after the previous operator surrendered its lease in 2024, placing the site’s future and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) licence at risk.

In July last year, the Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance (SASA) stepped in on an interim basis to keep the airport open, with the CAA licence later reinstated following a successful audit.

Since then, the council says SASA has introduced a café, tightened operational standards, rebuilt confidence within the flying community and attracted interest from businesses looking to relocate to the site.

Cabinet approved the move to grant a long-term lease earlier this month, with council leader Rob Stewart previously saying that taking the airport back to market would have required a fresh CAA licence application, potentially leading to disruption and uncertainty.

Under the proposal, SASA will be offered a lease on commercial terms, subject to independent valuation, allowing it to invest in infrastructure while the council retains its role as landlord.

Ongoing scrutiny

The council said it remains committed to supporting aviation in Swansea while ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and best value principles.

The Herald understands that concerns continue to be raised by some within the local aviation community, and the situation will be kept under review.

Police appeal for witnesses after incident reported in early hours of Sunday

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are investigating an allegation of rape reported to have taken place at Sands Nightclub in Saundersfoot in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).

The alleged incident is reported to have occurred in the toilet area of the nightclub shortly after 3:00am.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the allegation and remains in police custody while enquiries continue.

Officers are appealing to anyone who was in the venue at the time, or who may have seen or heard anything that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by calling 101. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via their website.

Quote reference: 25*1018987.

Accused tells jury claims did not happen as trial hears evidence about alcohol use and alleged controlling behaviour

A MAN accused of sexually abusing a child in Pembrokeshire more than fifteen years ago has denied the allegations while giving evidence at Swansea Crown Court.

Thomas Kirk, aged 50, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, is accused of orally raping and sexually assaulting a child aged between 13 and 15-years-old in the Pembrokeshire area between 2007 and 2008.

The jury has heard allegations that Kirk forced the child to perform oral sex, compelled her to remove her clothing and digitally penetrated her, leaving her distressed and in tears.

Kirk, who is originally from Scotland, gave evidence in his own defence and denied carrying out any of the acts alleged.

When the accusations were put to him directly, he told the court: “No, it did not happen.”

Alcohol use disputed

The court heard that Kirk, who has recently been employed as a grounds worker, has struggled with alcoholism for much of his life and accepted that there were periods when he could not remember what he had done the previous night.

Counsel for the prosecution, Robin Rouch, suggested that Kirk had been drinking heavily around the time of the alleged offences and that alcohol may have been a contributing factor.

Kirk denied this, telling the jury he had stopped drinking around 2007 and did not consume alcohol at home.

“I would have the occasional drink at work Christmas events, but I would never have alcohol at home,” he said.

“That is a lie, isn’t it, Mr Kirk?” Mr Rouch put to him.

“No,” Kirk replied.

The prosecution suggested that witnesses would say Kirk regularly drank vodka mixed with energy drinks and kept bottles of vodka at his home during the relevant period.

“It’s true, Mr Kirk, that you had a bottle of vodka in the house and were drinking vodka from a glass, wasn’t you?” the court heard.

“No, I wasn’t,” Kirk responded.

Allegations of controlling behaviour

The jury also heard allegations that Kirk became controlling towards the child after learning she had lost her virginity.

It was suggested he frequently checked her phone messages and attempted to control what she wore and who she spoke to.

“I was protective, not controlling,” Kirk told the court.

When asked whether he could think of any reason why the alleged victim would fabricate such serious allegations, Kirk said he could not.

Background to the case

Kirk first appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court in connection with the allegations in 2023.

At that hearing, he was charged with one count of rape and a further count of sexual assault involving a girl who was aged between thirteen and fifteen at the time of the alleged offences.

The court was told the offences were alleged to have taken place between May 2007 and May 2009 at an undisclosed address in the Pembrokeshire area.

Because both offences are indictable-only, magistrates sent the case to Swansea Crown Court for trial. No pleas were entered at that stage and Kirk was released on unconditional bail.

Later at Crown Court he pleaded not guilty leading to the trial this week.

On Tuesday, His Honour Paul Thomas KC, told the jury that legal summing up will take place on Tuesday (Dec 17), after which jurors are expected to retire to consider their verdict.

The case continues.