Reform Councillor Proposes UFO Committee at Doncaster Airport Debate

It’s not every day you hear a local council debate the reopening of an airport while simultaneously proposing a committee to monitor unidentified aerial phenomena. But that’s exactly what happened in Doncaster, Yorkshire, on May 13, 2026. Kieran Lay, Reform UK councillor for Thorne and Moorends Ward, threw a curveball during an extraordinary meeting focused on a massive £57 million borrowing decision. His suggestion? Establish a temporary panel dedicated to tracking UAPs (Unidentified Anomaly Phenomena) around Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The proposal landed amidst high-stakes negotiations about whether to proceed with funding the airport’s return to service. While Lay claimed he wanted to "lighten the mood," his argument was rooted in specific, cited evidence: a 2020 cockpit video of a supersonic object over the runway and recent sightings in nearby Bawtry and Toll Bar. It’s a bizarre twist in municipal politics, blending aviation safety with extraterrestrial speculation.

A Proposal Born from Safety Concerns

Lay didn’t just pull this out of thin air. In his formal address, he pointed to verified data points that have been circulating among local enthusiasts and pilots. He specifically referenced the 2020 incident where a pilot captured footage of an object moving at supersonic speeds directly over the airport grounds. Then there are the more recent reports from 2025 and early 2026, including sightings in Lay’s own ward over the weekend prior to the meeting.

"If we are serious about delivering a safe, successful airport for the people of Doncaster, shouldn't we at least examine all verified data, including the UAP activity recorded right here," Lay argued. He bolstered his case by citing guidance from NASA, suggesting that local authorities should adopt proactive, evidence-based approaches to these phenomena to ensure aviation safety. The idea is that a dedicated oversight body could coordinate with broader aerospace monitoring efforts across Yorkshire, potentially restoring public confidence as the airport prepares to reopen.

Here’s the thing: it’s easy to dismiss this as a stunt. But Lay framed it as a matter of rigorous risk assessment. If there are unexplained objects flying near commercial flight paths, ignoring them seems reckless, regardless of their origin. Whether they’re drones, atmospheric anomalies, or something else entirely, the principle of monitoring remains valid.

The Real Battle: A £57 Million Gamble

Beneath the UFO chatter lies a much more conventional political fight. The extraordinary meeting was called by the Reform group—the largest party on Doncaster City Council—to rescind a previous decision to borrow £57 million. This money is intended to facilitate the reopening of the airport, which has been silent since 2022.

The controversy centers on a 125-year lease agreement with the Peel Group, the previous owners who closed the facility when it became financially unviable. New information revealed that this lease includes an annual £5 million base rate loan to Peel Group. For many councillors, this looked like a sweetheart deal that locked taxpayers into long-term financial obligations without sufficient transparency.

Mayor Ros Jones, Labour Mayor of Doncaster, pushed back hard against the Reform group’s objections. Speaking to LBC radio, she noted that Reform councillors had been given opportunities to attend scrutiny meetings where details were explained, but they hadn’t turned up. "They didn’t turn up," she said, highlighting the tension between the executive leadership and the opposition regarding information sharing.

Compromise and Future Implications

After roughly two hours of heated discussion, the Reform group decided to withdraw their motion to rescind the borrowing. However, they secured new safeguards. Any new lease agreement must now be made available to all councillors in writing before approval. It’s a classic political compromise: the money stays on the table, but the process gets tighter.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Proponents argue that reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport could bring billions to the local economy, creating jobs and reconnecting the region to national and international travel networks. Critics worry about the financial burden and the legacy of the Peel Group’s failed management. The addition of a UAP monitoring committee, if adopted, would add another layer of complexity to the airport’s governance structure.

What’s next? The council will likely move forward with the financing plans under the new safeguards. Meanwhile, the question of whether a UAP panel will actually be formed remains open. It might end up being a symbolic gesture rather than a functional body, but it certainly kept the media—and the public—talking.