By Julie Armstrong and Chris Story

Last updated 20:09, Friday, 05 September 2008

A Canadian company considering a £250 million investment in Cumbria says an airport in Carlisle is crucial to its decision.

Carlisle-born Peter Jardine said his business – World Biofibre Technology Inc – is keen to build a green power plant in west Cumbria, which would create more then 120 permanent jobs.

But obstacles stalling haulage boss Andrew Tinkler’s plans to transform the airport have made them think again.

Yesterday it was revealed a rescue package will be tabled within weeks.

Original plans for a £35 million airport overhaul crashed in July after they were called in by Government Office North West for a public inquiry.

But a fresh application is set to be lodged with Carlisle City Council next month that could revitalise proposals to run freight and passenger services to the airfield and move the Stobart Group’s headquarters there.

World Biofibre Technology’s project involves saving forests by converting agricultural crop residues like wheat straw into medium density fibreboard. These would be sold to furniture and window manufacturers.

They say the process at the proposed Cumbrian factory would save 2.5 million trees each year.

Mr Jardine, vice-president of the company, told The Cumberland News he was attracted to west Cumbria because of Eddie Stobart’s main depot, as well as ports at Workington and Barrow which would allow for delivery of material and the export of products.

He said: “Plans for the airport and the proximity of the Stobart company, are major factors in the decision my company is considering. They bring an improvement in communications, which is important because much of the production from the complex would be exported and that requires constant contact with customers in various locations. “There are potential customers in Cumbria, but not enough to take all the plant produces.

“I assume the detractors of Mr Tinkler’s plans do not need jobs and do not want to see the value of their homes increase as demand for accommodation rises. What his difficulties are revealing about the bureaucratic process is less than encouraging.”

Mr Jardine, who now lives in Ontario, said: “I have worked in Africa, Asia, Central America and Canada, but each time I come back to Carlisle it is harder to leave.”

He said most of the jobs which could be created are skilled, including a number of computer operators, adding: “I believe the labour force in the region is well trained, reliable and hard working and there is a need to generate employment.”

He said the plant would be supported with a green power plant, which would use factory waste as fuel.

Meanwhile Mr Tinkler’s team hope the new plans – addressing disputed aspects of the previous bid – will remove the need for an inquiry.

Developers hope to have a final decision on the airport’s future by the end of the year.

If the proposals do not get the go-ahead, Mr Tinkler has warned that the Stobart Group – parent company of haulage firm Eddie Stobart – will be forced to leave Cumbria.

The public inquiry was called because the Government questioned the justification for a business park at the airfield, saying there may be more suitable alternatives.

Stobart – which has a February 2009 deadline for work to begin – said time pressures made becoming involved in an inquiry commercially impossible and they withdrew the plans.

As part of the new application, it is understood Stobart Air will present a strengthened economic case for the development and the need to have air and non-aeronautical businesses on the site.

Airport director Richard Gordon said: “We have been assessing where the gaps were last time and what it was we were perceived to have failed to do.

“We are now pulling together a fresh application to go in, probably sometime in the middle of October, that seems to meet the timescales of the city council planners to get a result by the end of the year.”

Mr Gordon hopes talks already held between Stobart and the Government will help them come up with proposals that will not trigger an inquiry.

“We believe we can do that – we have got to do that. The timescales are so tight,” he added.

“If this does not happen by the end of the year, it will never happen. This really is the last throw of the dice.”

Experts are looking at how to soften the impact of the development, including the size of the new terminal, hangar and offices they want to build and how to reduce the aviation impact.

At the time the original application was refused, it is understood talks were at an advanced stage to run daily flights from Carlisle to an airport a 45-minute train journey outside London.