Villagers have breathed a sigh of relief after being told an international airport will not be built near their homes – because the plans never existed in the first place.
An ‘emergency edition’ of the village newsletter was the talk of Cound Moor’s new year party, thanks to a sensational ‘scoop’ by former editor George Turner, 71.
Mr Turner, who delivered the Cound Moor Echo to every home in the area for ten years, said his final tongue in cheek front page had struck a sobering blow to revellers. The former Shrewsbury Chronicle journalist came up with the idea while walking his dogs, and came out of retirement to reveal it exclusively to the 70 people at the party.
Above the headline Airport on The Hopyard was a picture of a Superjumbo Airbus A380 on a trial run.
The story began: “A multi-million pound project to develop an international airport on The Hopyard, Cound Moor, is all set for take-off.” It said the airport had been designed by the Ministry of Transport and approved by Shropshire County Council, Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and Cound Parish Council.
“It involves the construction of a single runway with taxi-ing lanes on the perimeter. The venture will be operated in conjunction with Birmingham Airport Authority and will obviate the need to construct an urgently needed runway there.”
But promises of a luxury flight lounge, restaurant and shopping arcade were as much ‘pie in the sky’ as the 75-foot control tower and huge tanks to store aviation fuel.
A message from transport minister Ruth Kelly MP – describing the hamlet as ‘stuck in a time warp’ – was also a spoof.
But Mr Turner said residents were quite happy to keep it a ‘no-fly’ zone – even if it did mean the village’s real-life air hostess Jill Mortiboys was forced to continue her lengthy commute to work in Birmingham.
l The Cound Moor Echo will continue to carry real-life stories under new editor, Daphne Skinner.