The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) has stepped in to smooth over a row over where the region's main airport should be situated.

Arguments over the siting of the airport were voiced during a conference held by the Devon and Cornwall Business Council (DCBC).

The owners of Plymouth Airport, Sutton Harbour Holdings, proposes building houses on the sites both Plymouth and Exeter airports and using the income to fund a new one east of Plymouth in the South Hams.

However, the boss of Exeter Airport has said there no need for a new airport and that his rival in Plymouth should just be shut down.

Exeter Airport is supported by local business leaders

The conference was led by the Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

It was asking business leaders to decide on the way forward for local air travel before the government releases its crucial White Paper on aviation this year.

Tim Jones from the DCBC said the current airports are not attracting investment or enough travellers.

He said: "About two thirds of travellers from South West go outside the region, to Heathrow and elsewhere, for their travel.

Nuclear concerns

At the conference, Exeter Airport Managing Director Geoff Myers attacked the South Hams scheme on several fronts.

He said: "We've got problems on rail and the roads and we don't want to wait 10 years for an airport in the South Hams.

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"In the meantime, we just get left further behind. We may get to the point where it's irretrievable."

Mr Myers even said it could pose nuclear safety worries because it might mean planes taking off over Devonport's submarine complex.

But Malcolm Naylor of Sutton Harbour Holdings said: "Approximately 96% of the passengers at Exeter Airport are travelling on leisure and leaving this region.

"We need to look at new services bringing business and leisure passengers into the region."

The RDA said it would look again at all the issues, including the new airport proposal.