Awkward questions over the future of Gloucestershire's airport – the backbone of the county's business community – have forced an announcement that Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) and Gloucester City Council (GCC) are working with the transport hub to seek investment and a new owner.

Gloucestershire Airport says it has "bolstered its senior leadership team in readiness to seize opportunities new investment" and that the airport will go onto the market "in the near future".

In a joint statement on the move, which came in reaction to rumours voiced on Monday at Gloucester City Council by Cllr Jeremy Hilton (Lib Dem, Kingsholm and Wotton), CBC leader Rowena Hay said: "the timing is right for both councils to bring in a new owner to take [the airport] forward".

Jason Ivey, airport director, added that the sale made sound "commercial sense for everyone". He said: "The airport's a real asset for Gloucestershire and with the right investment it can play an even greater role in unlocking regional growth and supporting exciting projects like the Golden Valley development."

Key immediate changes to the top table at Staverton include a new human resources manager, Imogen Maguire, while Angela Madigan will become head of finance and Brian Rawlings takes the job as head of operations. All are confirmed to be playing a central role in the sale.

Mr Ivey added that the personnel changes put the facility in a better position "to grab this opportunity with both hands and take the airport to the next level".

Recognising the airport's contribution to the regional economy, Ms Hay said: "The future of the airport and the contribution both the airport and the businesses located there make to the regional economy is well recognised. The timing is now right for both councils to bring in a new owner to take it forward."

Richard Cook, leader of GCC, added: "Both councils are committed to preserving the airport as a centre for aviation for the benefit of Gloucestershire, especially given its extensive heritage. It plays a hugely important role within the region and we hope that a new owner will take it to the next level."

Mr Cook's reassurance might not, however, calm concerns among some of the airport's key tenants.

Across the existing 400-acre site, which was formed in 1936 and originally named Staverton Airport, this is home base in the county for many big names, including Safran, Babcock, Ontic and GEE, while Specialist Aviation Services (SAS) is also based here as a leading entity in the aviation industry. The facility has its own fire station and two business parks which have a combined 700,000 sq ft, as well as the planned 30,000 sq ft CGX Connect which, when fully operational, is forecast to provide 1,520 new jobs.

However, the only infrastructure as yet delivered is an access road to the new area.

Jason Ivey landed in the MD's chair at the airport in August after the role was vacated by the sudden departure of Karen Taylor, two months previously, amid a barrage of claims  from tenants that the airport had "gone down the pan" and was "in the worst state it had ever been".

Tuesday's announcement came after Cllr Hilton told GCC that a Cheltenham cabinet member had informed him with certainty that a sale was going ahead.

Cllr Hilton added: "There's been no discussion with group leaders which I would have thought there would have been. And there has been no mention in the minutes of the scrutiny committee meeting of September 25.

"I would hope there would be full discussion within this council of the options if there is any suggestion that Gloucestershire Airport is put up for sale."

He added that the "the last thing" GCC should be doing was to risk the airport's status "for a quick sale in order to bail out the council down the road which might be struggling financially." The assertion was refuted by the council.

In 2021, Gloucestershire Airport was allocated a multi-million pound investment from the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough Councils. Consequent upgrades meant the north-south runway could be closed, freeing up over 300,000 square foot of surplus land for development.

Work completed included runway resurfacing, the installation of new runway lighting, upgrades to signage and drainage, and the installation of below-ground infrastructure in readiness for a new radar system.

"These upgrades," GCC said in yesterday's statement, "as well as surplus land and a range of potential redevelopment and other commercial opportunities, within the airport and adjoining business parks, mean the airport should prove an exciting proposition for a new owner to come in and build on its historic success.

Punchline-Gloucester.com says: Today's revelation of Gloucestershire Airport going up for sale is immense. This is the crown jewels of the county's business community and uncertainty of any sort does not sit well with our credibility as a prime location for high tech and engineering. The CAA ranks the airport as the 15th most busy aero hub in the UK; it is famed for its aero training status and 1,000s of jobs fan out from the airport's ongoing existence. Recent history has been turbulent and ever since the exit of Darren Lewington  as operations director in 2018, questions have persisted over the quality of management. Amid widespread speculation that selling off the estate would banish housebuilding headaches, this announcement, forced as a reaction to leaked information within Cheltenham Borough Council, hardly settles uneasy stomachs. So here's to hoping for clarity and certainty on the airport's future – without it, we're grounded. What's your view? Email news@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk with your thoughts.