The countdown to a “crucial” decision which will shape the future of UK space travel is on.
Moray is in the running to host the first UK spaceport, with sites selected at Lossiemouth and Kinloss.
Six other aeordromes, at Stornoway, Leuchars, Machrihanish, Prestwick, Newquay and Llanbedr are also on the shortlist.
Universities, Science and Cities Minister Greg Clark promised this week that the government will move “quickly” in selecting a site.
Ministers hope it will be operational by 2018, facilitating satellite launches and new tourism initiatives.
Under pressure from Argyle and Bute MP Alan Reid to commit to one of Moray’s rival sites in the House of Commons, Mr Clark promised an announcement would be made soon.
He said: “The government has undertaken a public consultation on the eight potential location and the criteria that will be used to select the location of a UK spaceport. A response to this consultation will be published shortly.”
Last night James Johnston, chairman of Moray Strategic Business Forum and vice-chairman of Moray Economic Partnership, welcomed the news a decision was imminent, and said it was “crucial” for the future development of the UK space sector.
The former RAF Kinloss station commander said: “Selecting the right site for a future spaceport is critical to the success of the initiative launched last July, and maintaining a momentum in the process is just as important.
“There is one candidate that stands out head and shoulders above the rest, and that is Kinloss — the facts submitted by MEP as part of the consultation process last year speak for themselves.”
Moray MP Angus Robertson said: “Moray has the significant additional benefits of having a huge amount of aerospace expertise with our long-standing air force connection — with thousands of personnel based at Lossiemouth and with many others, who have retired from the air force, whose skills could be critical in a spaceport development.”
Mike Ramsey, of Forres-based Scotland Electronics International, who deliver cutting edge electronic components to clients such as Nasa and Formula One, said a Kinloss spaceport would be a “game-changing opportunity” for Moray and for Scotland.