Government slammed for investing £285m on 'white elephant' airport where planes can't land

Government ministers have been slammed for a ‘staggering’ series of failures after investing £285million of taxpayers’ money on an airport where planes are unable to land.

The hefty sum was forked out for the ‘white elephant’ runway at British colony St Helena in the South Atlantic in a bid to boost tourism.

But the runway has been besieged by extreme conditions which have left commercial planes unable to land. And the adverse weather isn’t a new phenomenon – it was documented by Charles Darwin in 1836.

Now, a new report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee has heavily criticised the spending – and said it was ‘staggering’ that the Department for International Development (DFiD) approved the sum before wind conditions were thoroughly examined.

The report is also ‘extremely sceptical’ about claims that tourism numbers could have risen to 29,000 by 2042 as a result of the airport’s construction.

Meg Hillier, who chaired the committee, said: ‘The Government has an obligation to support St Helena but a £285million white elephant serves neither its people nor the taxpayers footing the bill.

‘The failure to undertake robust due diligence on this project is truly appalling.

‘I also have serious concerns about the airport’s business case, which was marginal at best.

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‘A more modest airport could have addressed the practical needs of the Saints.

She added: ‘The result is a disaster – a commercial airport that is not fit for purpose, no credible plan to salvage value for money, and no clarity on exactly who is responsible for the whole sorry mess.’

And while individuals are yet to be singled out for their involvement in the project, it is claimed that leading Tory donor Lord Ashcroft met with the government only weeks before the decision was made.

Labour MP Caroline Flint added: ‘He was reported to have dined with the Prime Minister at Chequers just six weeks before the Government pledged £250 million for this project. Did that influence the decision?’