Originally Posted by airborne_artist
Wallingford now says it loves RAF Benson after all!:
Date published: Saturday 25 March 2006
Town fears loss of RAF
Wallingford traders fear RAF Benson may close, despite moves by its base commander to play down the rumours.
Businesses in and around the town fear trade will suffer if the base is axed to make way for a helicopter superbase at RAF Lyneham.
The fears were sparked after a statement by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram, who said RAF Lyneham could be used under Project Belvedere, a joint helicopter command study.
If that happens it could mean the closure of the RAF's two main helicopter bases at Odiham and Benson, although neither was mentioned specifically.
Wallingford mayor Lynda Atkins [who is an ex-RAF officer] said: "If RAF Benson ever closed we would all be the poorer.
"We would lose a good friend to the town. Wallingford has always had good relations with RAF Benson and we want to see it stay.
"Any thoughts of losing the base would be devastating for us."
Nicky Culnane, licensee of The Crown in Benson, said: "It would hit my trade incredibly hard.
"We have service people in here as regulars and they organise special parties here.
"We also have rooms which contractors on the base use regularly.
"If RAF Benson closed it would be a major tragedy for people locally. Shops and local businesses would all suffer."
But base commander Group Captain Duncan Welham said: "There is a lot of talk going around, mostly speculation in the media, which is not helpful to the base. I can categorically tell you that absolutely nothing has been decided."
The base has 1,600 RAF personnel and 175 civilians working there but there are also hundreds of wives and children in base housing.
Service personnel who would not be named for security reasons said they felt there were rumblings that the base would close.
One said: "There are always rumours because Benson has miles of runways here and helicopters do not need runways. So that part of the base is redundant anyway.
"No-one knows anything for certain but there are worries among service families."
There were rumours two years ago that the base would close under a major review of RAF commitments.
Any move to close Odiham and Benson would be after 2012 when the RAF's Hercules fleet will be stationed permanently at RAF Brize Norton.
Also read that in the local press,and couldn't believe the hypocrisy of my Old Home-town residents.(now live down the road in Didcot)
World Champion whingers when the Families Day was on a couple of years back plus they don't like the helos,yet they want the RAF to stay to help save their businesses.
Can't have it all ways folks................
As an Oxfordshire based enthusiast,it'll be a sad day indeed for me if Benson were to ever close...many,MANY happy memories from Spotters Corner
just my thoughts
Colin