Aid chiefs told David Cameron to IGNORE warnings about St Helena’s £285m airport would be a ‘very expensive white elephant’
The warning letters were revealed by former Tory peer Lord Ashcroft
AID chiefs told David Cameron to ignore grave warnings from a pilot seven years ago that a taxpayer funded £285 million airport on St Helena would be a disaster.
A bombshell letter from 2010 emerged yesterday, revealing the ex-PM was told “undesirable” wind shear would make it a “very expensive and embarrassing white elephant”.
Ex-BA pilot Brian Heywood urged David Cameron not to blow taxpayers cash on the project in the remote island.
But the PM passed the warnings from his constituent onto the Department for International Development – and was reassured everything would be fine.
Ex-Aid Secretary Andrew Mitchell said all concerns raised by the pilot were being addressed.
Commercial airliners are yet to launch services to the overseas territory and the project has triggered scathing criticism from MPs.
Early last year amid huge controversy about the airport, Mr Heywood wrote to Mr Cameron again – saying he was “frustrated his warnings had been ignored”.
Related stories
Then Aid Minister Desmond Swayne told the PM the issues were being taken “very seriously” but wind shear should not “preclude regular flights”.
Last year a devastating report said the aid department had “unquestionably failed” the taxpayer.
MPs on the cross party Public Accounts Committee tore into civil servants for not foreseeing the dangerous wind conditions on the island.
Last night Mr Mitchell admitted wind shear had “certainly been more of a problem that originally anticipated”.
The letters were revealed by former Tory peer Lord Ashcroft.
Mr Mitchell said: “Lord Ashcroft’s account is entirely correct.
“I have every confidence that an air service in St Helena will start. Ministers and civil servants can only rely on the expert advice that is given.”