Originally Posted by
brokenlink
Regional Centres may well be coming, however the concern I have is that, in order to maximise the weekend it is likely that travel on the Friday evening will be required. This raises the issue of squadron staff, having worked a full day at their day job, being required to transport cadets to a VGS that could be a couple of hours drive away (for some). There are implication for Drivers Hours with this approach that I am unsure have been considered.
Travelling distances to Swanton Morley for 614 VGS staff would be a real issue if this relocation option were to be taken (they are all volunteers not regulars, and while very committed there is a limit to what you can reasonably expect). Most of them live too far away (half more than a two hour drive away) to make regular attendance at Swanton Morley a realistic prospect.
614 VGS (good luck to them) needs to somehow retain these volunteer staff if it is to deliver anything approaching the required capability/output as a 'regional centre'. It is important that someone seriously considers staff retention in the selection of a new operating site.