RiverOak housing accusations refuted

We are aware of the recent accusations on another page that RiverOak’s plans include building residential units in conjunction with an airport. This seemed to be being backed up by minutes published of the meeting of “Kent International Airport Consultative Commitee” on 30th September 2014.

We have had correspondence from Thanet District Council leader Iris Johnston to say that both Cllr Harrison and Cllr Nicholson have confirmed that these minutes are inaccurate.

“Cllr Harrison tells me this may have come from minutes at KiAcc which are inaccurate!! Cllr Nicholson has confirmed this is certainly the case! I have written to the Chairman Mr Paul Twyman. I am sure he will want to immediately put right!”
– Iris Johnston

The Chairman of this committee, Mr Paul Twyman, has also been contacted by Cllr Iris Johnston to correct these inaccuracies.

We have also received emails from both MP Sir Roger Gale and Tony Freudmann the Managing Director of RiverOak Investments. We found Mr. Freudmann’s email particularly interesting, and think you will too.

He states on record that “RiverOak are not house developers. They have made this clear to the Davies Commission and in all their documents. They have no interest in putting houses on any part of the site.” Sir Roger Gale confirms that he has received a freedom of information request from Thanet District Council that confirms that RiverOak have never mentioned housing as part of their plan in any meeting. However, the request did show that representatives of Manston Skyport (current ownership) certainly have met and discussed housing.

Tony Freudmann also had the following to say regarding personal accusations thrown at him “I was responsible for Manston’s conversion to a civilian airport, building it up as a cargo airport and then being ‘let go’ when I protested that the Eujet plan made no economic sense.”