However if the the council had taken a long term view and protected the airport, in the knowledge that the council would never be able to afford to build another they may today have had a greater asset.
If they had used many of the brownfield sites and old industrial land that was at the time in great abundance thay may have even had an international airport serving Wearside and the North of England. Yet the decision was made in true council style to get rid of the loss making airport !!!!!!!

Sounds like Plymouth Airport, shut just a few days ago(!)