RAF Lyneham
will close by the end of 2012, the Government has confirmed
Daily
Telegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk
7th May 2009
Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said a possible plan
to base helicopters there was being scrapped, and it was "unlikely" any
future use could be found for the Wiltshire base which employs
750 civilian staff. Hercules C130 aircraft which had been
stationed at Lyneham are being moved to RAF Brize Norton.
Mr Ainsworth said in a written Commons statement that
Programme Belvedere, a study into a shake-up of where forces'
helicopters could be based, was being abandoned as it seemed
unlikely to produce the required savings.
The minister added: "This decision also means that RAF
Lyneham is no longer under consideration as a basing option
for the Joint Helicopter Command. The then Minister for
the Armed Forces announced on 4 July 2003 that following
movement of the C130 fleet to RAF Brize Norton, 'if no
further defence use is identified for Royal Air Force Lyneham,
the station will be closed and disposed of'.
"On current plans the C130K and C130J fleets will move
from RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton in summer 2011. The
transfer is planned to complete, to enable the Royal Air
Force to vacate RAF Lyneham by the end of 2012. It now
seems unlikely that a further use will be identified for
the site."
"It is too early to say exactly what the impact will be
for civilian staff at the station but the trades unions
have been kept informed and my officials will engage with
them and the local authorities around RAF Lyneham to ensure
we do everything possible to support our people and to
manage the drawdown sensitively. Meanwhile, RAF Lyneham
continues to play a key role in supporting current operations
through the provision of strategic and tactical airlift,
and I am deeply grateful to staff at the station for their
service, and to the local population for their support."
Local Tory MP James Gray (North Wiltshire) found out about
the confirmation of closure first from a leaked letter
sent by Wing Commander Rob Snell to officers at the base,
which Wiltshire Council estimates contributes £25
million to the county's economy.
The MP said in a statement: "I was devastated to hear – from
an internal letter from a Wing Commander at RAF Lyneham – that
despite all of our efforts, the base is to close on December
31 2012.
"The fact that ministers did not have the courage to make
this announcement to parliament speaks for itself.
"There are 750 civilians employed at RAF Lyneham and many
hundreds of others in my constituency who owe their livelihoods
in one way or another to the base and this news will come
as a great blow to all of them, as well of course to the
many thousands of RAF personnel who it will affect."
Mr Gray added that he would do everything he could to
find a secure future for the base.
Armed Forces Minister, Mr Bob Ainsworth written
statement  Read |
