Proposals to close Plymouth Airport in December have been approved this afternoon.

The city council agreed with leaseholders Sutton Harbour holdings that it was no longer economically viable.

The local authority are now in talks with the military and say they hope they can keep the airfield open for flag officer sea training.

Likewise, councillors say they plan to protect the land from any development over the next few years.

Meanwhile Councillors will also look to sell the civic centre and lease back part of it to reduce their accommodation costs.

The idea would be to find a buyer and vacate the building for refurbishment by October 2012.

New safety proposals for the pedestrian crossing on Royal Parade also went through - they include changing the colour of the paving and looking at the timing of the lights after a pensioner died there in February 2010.

And proposals for three permanent travellers' sites will now go ahead subject to government funding.

The local authority says achieveing the funding to create the sites at St Budeaux, Efford and Roborough will take at least eighteen months.