Airport chiefs refuse to pay bill for showground's move

Published on Friday 13 June 2008 10:49

AIRPORT bosses today refused to foot the bill for the relocation of the Royal Highland Showground as the cost of the move soared to £353 million.

The showground is having to switch from its current site at Ingliston to Norton Park, on the other side of the A8, to make way for the expansion of Edinburgh Airport.

Showground bosses insist airport operator BAA should pick up the bulk of the bill, but senior sources at BAA said that would not happen.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has revealed the cost of the relocation has risen from a rough estimate of 275m last year to a more precise figure of 353m, based on detailed costings.

It also launched a public consultation on its plans for the Norton Park site.

Ray Jones, chief executive of the RHASS, said: "The deliverability study gives us an accurate cost and further detailed plans, which will help us to move this exciting project forward.

"We are currently in discussions with BAA, who need our existing showground site to meet their expansion plans, about our relocation costs."

The plans for Norton Park include a new showground, members' pavilion, three new halls and a 10,000-seat indoor arena.

The RHASS says it currently generates more than 250 million for the Scottish economy – a figure it believes could double with the new showground.

A spokesman said the society was looking for an agreement with BAA by the end of the year so construction work could start in 2010 for the first show to be held on the new site in 2013.

He said the RHASS expected BAA to pay "the vast majority" of the cash and stressed the latest figure was a "like-for-like" replacement cost for the relocation of the current amenities at Ingliston and did not include the extra facilities planned for Norton Park.

A BAA Scotland spokeswoman said the land presently owned by the RHASS was required for the long-term growth of Edinburgh Airport after 2013, in line with a UK Government White Paper.

But she said: "We have consistently made clear that such a development would not take place at any cost, and would only proceed on the basis of a robust business case.

"There has been a useful dialogue between BAA and RHASS over recent months on this issue and we look forward to continuing those discussions."

However, a senior BAA source went further and ruled out footing the relocation bill.

The source said: "Edinburgh Airport would not be able to pay the full cost. The hard facts are that for a commercial deal this just doesn't fit. It is not possible."

The UK Department for Transport said that although it had earmarked the land for airport expansion, it had no plans to step in with funding. A spokesman said: "It is entirely a matter for BAA."

The Scottish Government, which endorsed the relocation as part of its West Edinburgh Planning Framework, said: "Commercial discussions are taking place and it is not for the Government to get involved."