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Choppers bring
ray of new hope for Lyneham
Gazette & Herald
16th March 2006
www.gazetteandherald.co.uk
The future of RAF Lyneham has been given a glimmer of hope
after it was revealed the base is being considered as a helicopter
superbase.
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram disclosed the possibility
of the station being used under Project Belvedere, a joint
helicopter command study. North Wiltshire MP James Gray has
cautiously welcomed the news.
He said guesswork led him to believe it would be similar
to the numbers currently at RAF Lyneham around 3,500 military
personnel. "Nothing's been talked about in official terms,
but it would be a substantial amount of people to fill the
accommodation," he said.
Mr Gray said bringing all the choppers together would make
economic sense and would make RAF Lyneham the Army's main
helicopter base. "There would be lots of investment in
Lyneham and the whole base would be regenerated," he
said. |
| "We must welcome this news. It's estimated
that 10,000 people in North Wiltshire owe their livelihood
to RAF Lyneham, that's every 10th person you speak to."
Mr Gray said the main downside would be noise from the helicopters,
but he had spoken to his colleague, the MP for Odiham, who
had relatively few complaints. "Hercs are noisy too,
and we've got used to that," he said. " This is
what we've been campaigning for, so the people power must
have made a difference."
Mr Gray said the time for heavy-handed campaigning was over,
and he now planned to "gently push" the MoD in the
right direction. "This has come at the right time, particularly
after the job losses at Dyson, St Ivel and Hygrade. My job
is to work with the MoD to keep an eye on what is happening
and ensure whatever happens suits our local interests."
Mr Gray was also encouraged by an indication that, even if
a joint helicopter superbase was not a reality, other defence
uses would be sought. Villager Andy Humm, a civilian at RAF
Lyneham who was set to lose his job when the base closed,
said it was positive news for everyone involved. "It
could be great for Lyneham," he said. "But we'll
hold off the celebrations until it's been 100 per cent confirmed."
The remark by Mr Ingram is the biggest hint yet that RAF
Lyneham could still be used as a military base after 2012,
when the Hercules fleet will be relocated to Brize Norton.
The plan would be to close RAF Benson, in rural Oxfordshire,
and RAF Odiham, in Hampshire, and create one huge super-base.
It would mean Merlin, Chinook and Puma helicopters from the
two bases relocating to RAF Lyneham when the Hercules fleet
leaves in six years time.
Chinooks are cargo carrying choppers, while the others undertake
ordinary military activities. All would fly in and out of
Lyneham, rather than be transported on other aircraft. There
has been no indication exactly how many helicopters or personnel
would be involved in the move, although there are 2,000 employees
and three squadrons at RAF Odiham alone. |
