Proposals for RAF Scampton

[Phoon]

Be an ideal location for RAFAT

'Many a truth has been spoken in jest' as the saying goes.
If finances and resources, perhaps even internal RAF politics, were not an issue, The Reds might just have stayed. However, and I say this gently, it may well be that The Reds are being taken off their pedestal, and no more 'our own base' and 'we and us', all what goes with an over-inflated ego. It has been coming for some time, the past year has certainly hastened and solidified that process.

They have shared bases with other unit's on several occasions during the past - 1983 - 1995 with CFS at Scampton, 1995 - 2000 with Cranwell and it's units.

[Vulcanone]

Indeed Phoon, Not to mention the comings and goings of 5MU at Kemble. Or its stint at Little Rissington and Fairford on occasions also.

[taildragger]

Presume it's common knowledge that ex Scampton Hunter GA.11 XE685 is now at nearby Wickenby, to, eventually, be put on display.

[pug]

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news ... 220356.amp

Worth a mention, though I’m not sure how they will be able to keep the airfield open. Won’t be cheap. Still, the intention is there to be sensitive to heritage, how long that will last remains to be seen.

[baz1]

its now looks like Scampton will be now be housing up to 1500 Asylum Seekers and i have heard the museum as been emptied on the QT.

[Vulcanone]

No quieter than any other RAF station that has closed. Not everything gets plastered about when bases rundown

That said, the ex Reds Arrows Gnat and plastic Hawk were seen leaving, photographed on low loaders going North, and appeared on the destination auctions website.

As for the housing. If the RAF abandoned it due to the state it was in, its likely to cost a s*** load of cash for Asylum seekers

Meanwhile

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-l ... e-65000047

[Unknown74]

What a pathetic and ludicrous idea. Why not a Dambusters Heritage Centre or something like that.

[Vulcanone]

Unknown74 Do keep up....

This is the plan....

https://www.aerosociety.com/news/exclus ... jMxgtdqZyI


the plan to house Asylum seekers centre has only surfaced in the last fortnight

[baz1]

more on this story in todays Sun Page 10 by Trevor Kavanagh

[Mark]

more on this story in todays Sun Page 10 by Trevor Kavanagh

Must be true then....

[zero_gravity]

GBNews / Farage live from Scampton this evening [ 1900-2000 ]re the plans to make the base into a migrant centre

[AyrForce1]

Being reported that the local council has now applied for listed status to stop Scampton being used for an asylum seeker's centre.

[colt99]

Being reported that the local council has now applied for listed status to stop Scampton being used for an asylum seeker's centre.

Don't know how true, but I had heard that the last station commander of Coltishall did the same.

[reaper493]

Scampton ceases to be an RAF base this Friday.

Not sure what can be done to prevent the proposed stuff happening.

The rooms are already being renovated (the same rooms that RAF staff slept in and was deemed fine for them and didn't need work doing) and there is a fence up between the school and the base (I'm not sure where the school is up there).

I really hope it can be reversed but it's not looking good.

[Blackcat1]

Do I dare say it? A certain black Labrador will be turning in his grave

[Focal_Plane]

Do I dare say it? A certain black Labrador will be turning in his grave

Actually, I seem to recall a story doing the rounds last year that they might be looking at relocating Gibson`s dog to 617 Squadron`s current base at RAF Marham. Has anyone else heard any more about this or is it just BS?

[Starbuck]

Do I dare say it? A certain black Labrador will be turning in his grave

Actually, I seem to recall a story doing the rounds last year that they might be looking at relocating Gibson`s dog to 617 Squadron`s current base at RAF Marham. Has anyone else heard any more about this or is it just BS?

Marham heritage haven't heard a thing about that and I'd have thought they would've.

[Focal_Plane]

Do I dare say it? A certain black Labrador will be turning in his grave

Actually, I seem to recall a story doing the rounds last year that they might be looking at relocating Gibson`s dog to 617 Squadron`s current base at RAF Marham. Has anyone else heard any more about this or is it just BS?

Marham heritage haven't heard a thing about that and I'd have thought they would've.

Thanks for that.

It would be sacrilege for many so perhaps it was just a BS story.

[Blackcat1]

Looks like it’s all happening. It’s sickening and screw the snowflakes!!

[pug]

Looks like it’s all happening. It’s sickening and screw the snowflakes!!

Whilst I appreciate the anger and fear (fear constructed and conflated by the media!), I fail to see how anyone can take issue to this? Given that it is a Government (MOD) facility that has for years been surplus to requirements, choosing to live near one will invariably mean you might end up living next to a prison/asylum centre/whatever else is flavour of the month of the Government of the time. Easy choice for them owing to the fact it’s only just been deserted by the RAF, but let’s face it, Scampton cards have been marked for decades and the people living there obviously didn’t complain when they managed to bag a bargain house..

For what it’s worth I don’t think Scampton Holdings have/had the financial backing required to see their plans through. Whilst I don’t doubt the credibility of the people behind Scampton Holdings, I do doubt the viability of their proposals. Also, it’s not just a coincidence that they unveiled these proposals a day before the asylum centre plans were made public, it was probably released in conjunction with WLDC to get the local (and not so local) residents to be suitably up in arms with a bit more justification for doing so. ‘Not in my back yard’..

It’s always sad when a military airfield which invariably has significant heritage* becomes surplus to requirements, but such is the nature of modern military there is no longer the need for so many airfields which are a burden to the MOD and ultimately the tax payer.

Hopefully in time, when the Government find someone else to focus blame on and the asylum seeker ‘crisis’ has abated, the buildings will still be standing and more sensitive proposals for the preservation of the site can be considered. Until then just be thankful that they are not flattening the place and building identikit Barratt homes on it with streets like Gibson Way and Barnes Drive, I doubt they’d name one after the pooch though.

*I do take issue with Scampton being a special case, there are airfields alls round where I live that are now just farmers fields and/or home to light industry, with the usual token tasteful memorial often the only reminder of the thousands of young men who left those fields never to return. What makes Scampton any different?