Crumley resigns
Derry Sinn Féin Councillor Cathal Crumley has resigned as chairperson of the Airport Committee, claiming the financial management of the City of Derry Airport is ``a shambles''.
Crumley said his resignation was ``regettable but necessary'' because he felt unable to continue to preside over ``the shambles in terms of the economic management of the airport''.
Describing the economic well being of the airport as essential to the city, Crumley also revealed that he had asked the local government auditor to assess the financial implications of the whole aiport. He said he believed the overspend on runway improvements which presently stood at £1.9 million was certain to rise.
Crumley went on to say that he felt the SDLP and the DUP had opposed Sinn Féin's plans for an Airport Standing Committee for narrow party political reasons.
``I believe that the SDLP assisted by the unionists blocked our Notice of Motion and replaced it with these inadequate proposals as a means of brushing the problems under the carpet and out of the public eye.''
He reiterated his party's commitment to making the airport work for the economic benifit of the people of the city but added that as things presently stood there was no accountability on the running of the troubled enterprise.
Crumley will remain as a committee member ``in order that I will be able to strive for the openness and accountability that the ratepayers deserve''.
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