RESIDENTS got an inside view of the plans for Exeter Airport s future at Ottery Town Council s annual parish meeting. John Spooner, interim managing director of Exeter Airport, was introduced as the guest speaker at Tuesday s meeting.

RESIDENTS got an inside view of the plans for Exeter Airport's future at Ottery Town Council's annual parish meeting.

John Spooner, interim managing director of Exeter Airport, was introduced as the guest speaker at Tuesday's meeting.

Mr Spooner who works for Regional and City Airports (RCA), who recently bought the airport, laid out the company's plans to develop the airport in to a 'thriving regional airport putting the region on the international map'.

The number of passengers using the airport every year had grown from about 874,000 in 2005/2006 to around one million in the past 12 months. Mr Spooner said RCA is hoping to invest £100 million in the airport over the next few years in the hope of enabling the airport to welcome 3,500,000 by 2030.

Concerns were raised by members of the audience over Royal Mail night flights, but Mr Spooner assured the meeting that the quietest planes were used and the flights were integral in Royal Mail's efforts to deliver first class mail since it stopped using trains.

After Mr Spooner's talk, Mayor Dobson gave a review of the year, including highlights such as the purchase of a field to provide a safer route to The King's School and the success of the council's new website.

The site was set up by deputy town clerk Su Graham last June and has received more than 14,000 hits since it went online. Mrs Graham has since been asked to help other councils to set up their own sites.

Mayor Dobson also highlighted the town's part in the successful Sustrans bid which is currently in the planning stages and the town's aims to be a quality council by this time next year.

Reports were also given by neighbourhood beat manager PC Phil Thomas and representatives of the Parish Paths Partnership, Ottery in Bloom and the Allotment Garden Management Committee.

Audience members were given the chance to quiz their council on any issues that concerned them.