As Stephenville awaits airport's fate, residents rue unfulfilled promises
CBC
Bob Byrnes has been in business in Stephenville for decades, and once served on the board of the non-profit corporation that used to run the airport.
He calls the current state of affairs in the west coast town a "desperate situation."
People are concerned.
"We've regressed from being an international airport to an aerodrome and now just a bit of pavement," Byrnes told CBC News.
"It's a terrible travesty that carries a lot of negative weight on this town."
A steady drip of bad news for the airport over recent months has gushed into a flood of misfortune.
The airport and its owner face millions in legal claims. Earlier this year, Stephenville Dymond International Airport saw its status downgraded to a registered aerodrome.
Finally, Newfoundland Power pulled the plug on electrical service, after issuing a notice of disconnection over what it called "outstanding account issues."
The airport has been closed since last Tuesday.
Some community leaders think things could have — and should have — been done differently.
Byrnes — president of the Downtown Stephenville Business Improvement Association Corporation — believes the mayor shoulders the blame.
"Tom Rose is the one who pushed this airport deal from day one," Byrne said.
"He used the fact that Carl Dymond was looking at coming in here to get himself re-elected and he pushed this deal on that airport board. They were all volunteers and their backs were to the wall."
For his part, Rose acknowledges that the current situation is dire, but says there were few other options.
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