By Matthew Legg Business editor

Last updated 08:59, Thursday, 10 July 2008

Crisis talks aimed at salvaging a £35m transformation of Carlisle Airport will take place on Monday.

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Proposal: An artist’s impression of the Carlisle Airport plans

Stobart boss Andrew Tinkler, who yesterday withdrew his plan to create a passenger and freight hub there, will meet politicians and regeneration chiefs in a bid to re-ignite the scheme.

Mr Tinkler pulled the plug on the project after Government Office North West ruled a public inquiry was needed before it could go ahead.

The year’s delay that would incur would mean his February 2009 deadline for the Stobart haulage business to move to the site would be missed.

Mr Tinkler has stressed from the scheme’s inception that Stobart switching to the airfield was vital to the viability of the whole scheme.

Next Monday he will meet with Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Cumbria Vision and others with a view to resubmitting a plan which would avoid a public inquiry.

Mr Tinkler has been told by the Government that he must withdraw the application in order to find out why it was ‘called in’.

The crux of matter is whether the call-in was linked to the plans for an expansion of the airport or the creation of a Stobart distribution centre. The Government will only say it has called a public inquiry because the decision is of “greater than local importance”.

Carlisle MP Eric Martlew said: “I’m disappointed that the decision has been taken to withdraw this application. I understand why it has and I will be talking to Andrew Tinkler and Government Office North West because I believe there will be another application going in and we have got to try and ensure that this one does not require a public inquiry.”

Carlisle City Council leader Mike Mitchelson said: “We’re very disappointed and totally frustrated that we have not been able to move forward with the airport development.

“There is overwhelming support for the airport right across the county.

“Having made the decision locally to go ahead with the airport, it has been blocked by the Secretary of State who wishes to have a public inquiry which would take up to a year to make a decision. The airport is important for the economic development of Cumbria and this is a big blow.”

Stobart intends to build a new runway, terminal, hangars, warehousing and offices at the Irthington site and move its entire Cumbrian haulage operation there. Carlisle City Council okayed the plan, but the Government withdrew the permission saying a local authority cannot rule on a scheme so important to the region. The subsequent public inquiry, and the 12-month delay it would incur, meant Stobart's February 2009 deadline for work to start would be missed.