The owners of under-threat Doncaster Sheffield Airport could close the site and 'sit on the land for decades', the Mayor of Doncaster has warned.

Ros Jones has has confirmed council policies dictate that the land on and around Doncaster Sheffield Airport limit it to aviation use and infrastructure for aero activities. She said the recent Local Plan approved last year limits the 800 acre site to ‘aviation uses and infrastructure required for the safe operation and growth of operational passenger and freight at the airport’.

But despite this, Mayor Jones said owners Peel is ‘well within the law’ to close the airport and simply sit on the site and ‘do nothing with it for decades’.

READ MORE: Anger as power cuts leave people ‘in the dark and out of pocket’

There’s less than two weeks left of a six week ‘strategic review’ and airport bosses said the site may have to close as it is now ‘commercially unviable ’ as passengers continue to use DSA for their holidays abroad.

Experts believe the airport may close by the end of October when the summer holiday season broadly comes to an end.

The mayor said the council, SYMCA, MPs and Doncaster Chamber are locked into ‘complex negotiations’ with Peel in order to secure the future of the site.

Mayor Jones said: “Yes, there are planning restrictions and limitations in place, but we need to be cautious that Peel would be well within the law to close the airport over the next couple of years and then simply sit on the site and do nothing with it for decades.

“Doncaster Council and SYMCA are currently in complex negotiations with Peel, and I am thankful that the government has now committed some resources from the Department for Transport to support us.

“We have also brought in Doncaster Chamber, business representatives and aviation experts, there is a significant amount of work going on in the background as a number of options are worked up and discussed at length with Peel.

“I believe it needs that mix of investors and operators to really drive that growth potential at DSA. It is an incredible airport, and I want to see a bright future for DSA.

“But the big thing to remember is that Peel does not currently want to sell.”

Holidaymakers on their way in to Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Doncaster Sheffield Airport's future is under threat

It comes as Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard pledged to do everything in his power to keep the regional airport up and running. He also accused airport operator Peel Group of being “disrespectful” by not letting his office know sooner that DSA may no longer be viable.

Mayor Coppard said that a working group had been set up to look at the airport’s future. He added: “ You’re looking at the commercial reality of running that airport. I want to keep it open and do everything we can to keep that airport open.”

He pointed out, though, that owners Peel can “do what they like with their airport”.

He added: “My frustration is the lack of powers I have as Mayor of South Yorkshire to do something more fundamental than offer them money to go away. We need more powers and control. Assets of community value should be under our control.”

He has previously said that taking the airport into public ownership would be a huge financial risk.

He said Teesside Airport, which was taken under control from Peel, has required a £20 million injection of taxpayers’ money after it struggled.

READ NEXT: