Zack Polanski’s opposition to reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is misguided
The Green Party’s leader’s opposition to the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is a reminder of why the Greens are not being taken seriously by the majority of people in this region.
Zack Polanski described the plans to reopen DSA as “outrageous” in the midst of a “climate crisis” but he fails to recognise the reality. Polanski may not fly due to environmental reasons but people who want to or even need to travel by air will do so, regardless.
People in Yorkshire are currently having to travel even more miles, adding to their carbon footprint, before they even step aboard an aircraft.
There is no denying that climate change is one of the biggest challenges that we face today. But tackling it is going to require pragmatism. Telling people that they should not fly at all is simply not going to work. Making it as efficient for them to do so is the sensible way forward.
There are many arguments to be made as to whether or not DSA’s reopening should go ahead. The question marks over leasing of the land, the potential profitability of the airport and whether so much taxpayer’s money should be gambled on the project.
However, the arguments around the environment have long been settled and the pragmatists accept that forcing people to travel to Manchester or Newcastle when they could fly from South Yorkshire is ridiculous.
As South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard points out there are also plans to build a sustainable aviation hub as part of the plans.
The Green Party leader says “we should be spending that money on public transport” but this is not a question of one or the other. The region needs both.
This lack of pragmatism is why the Green Party remains a fringe pressure group rather than a serious political force.