THE chaos over Newquay Airport's temporary closure has stirred me into writing to ask why Cornwall County Council has been so incompetent in letting this disaster occur.

Does the council not realise that Ryanair and Air South West could pull out completely and leave Cornwall back in the Dark Ages?

I would like to know who (probably being paid more than they deserve) is responsible for the mismanagement of such a vital service to our county. Cornwall always seems to be at the back of the queue for anything good.

Surely this situation goes to prove the council is not thinking sufficiently ahead to bring the county into the 21st Century.

As we live so far from major airports, it is essential that the local airports operate efficiently to enable people that want to extend their knowledge and interest of other cultures (whether it be for pleasure or work) to get to other airports without long car journeys.

Did council officials think that the Ministry of Defence would get them out of the mire yet again?

Then to hear on the news this evening that Cornwall County Council now expects us, the council tax payers, to foot the bill for its gross mismanagement is very annoying.

D HOBBS

Saltash