Newquay Airport brings in �17m to the county's economy

Local residents are concerned it might be impossible for RAF St Mawgan to double up as an airport for tourists and business passengers.

The Ministry of Defence has revealed it plans to mothball operations at the base from 2007.

But there are hopes it will become home to the new Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA).

If we have the JCA I believe we will lose a lot of tourist opportunities Pat Hardy, Airport Consultative Committee

The noise produced by the JCA however may lead the MoD to have to install double glazing in or compulsorily purchase some homes if it is set up there.

But Peter Hine, who lives opposite the airport, said: "Double glazing doesn't stand a chance with Tornadoes. They can be very noisy."

Annually about 300,000 passengers use the airport but despite sharing some facilities with the MOD it still runs at a loss.

Business and tourism leaders said the airport's future is crucial.

Local businessman Andrew Nott said: "The airport is very important to us.

"It was a major decision...particularly to get major customers down from London and the Midlands and without it we would have to rethink our location."

'Lose tourists'

Carol Wells, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said it is not unusual for military airbases to become homes to civilian airports.

"Jointly local authorities and private sector investors have [then] taken it on and actually built a thriving airport which has got spin off business parks, commercial operations as well as just passengers," she said.

However the airport consultative committee's Pat Hardy believes a fighter base would pose a threat to tourism.

She said: "If we have the JCA I believe we will lose a lot of tourist opportunities, we will lose a lot of tourists and I don't think that's acceptable."