Airport pledge 'vote of confidence in Scunthorpe'

Heathrow Airport's plans to use steel from Scunthorpe for its upgrade work is a "vote of confidence" in the area, according to the town's MP.

The news comes amid uncertainty for steel workers after the town's two blast furnaces were earmarked for closure in 2023, with plans to replace them with more energy-efficient alternatives.

On Wednesday, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye will give a speech at British Steel's Scunthorpe plant and sign the UK Steel Charter – an agreement to use the company's steel in its new infrastructure.

Sir Nic Dakin, MP for Scunthorpe, said: "It is good news for Scunthorpe. It's a vote of confidence for Scunthorpe steel by a large UK company. We can take some comfort from that."

He told BBC Radio Humberside: "There are still very sensitive, difficult things to get through but there's no reason we can't get to the end of that in a positive way."

Sir Nic said he thought both British Steel and the government "want to find a way of delivering a very complex deal for the transformation of the industry" and added: "Whilst they are still talking that through, we should be hopeful about that being delivered."

Fellow MP Martin Vickers, who represents Brigg and Immingham, said: "As many of my constituents will work at the British Steel site in Scunthorpe, or will have family or friends working there, this will be welcome news across my constituency.

"I am also pleased that Heathrow have specifically chosen the British Steel site to make a landmark announcement on the upgrading and modernising of the UK's hub airport."

Mr Woldbye is expected to use his speech to unveil plans about increasing capacity at terminals two and five, reconfigure the airfield and improve bus connections with the airport.

It comes following recent government backing for a third runway at the London airport.

Analysis by Tim Iredale – BBC political editor Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

All too often, the future of steel making in Scunthorpe has been shrouded in pessimism.

So there was a feeling of cautious optimism here following the commitment from Heathrow Airport to using UK-made steel as part of its expansion plans.

"Without steel, this town will die", one former steelworker told me in Scunthorpe town centre.

"We rarely get any good news", another retired worker said.

Industry minister Sarah Jones said: "This is a good day for Scunthorpe".

The government is keen to deliver some much-needed positive news in a town Labour snatched back from the Conservatives at the general election last year.

There is still much uncertainty about how steelmaking in Scunthorpe will adapt to cleaner, greener production - but many in this part of North Lincolnshire are confident the industry will continue to provide work for future generations.

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