PDA

View Full Version : More history at risk - Binbrook now


DamienB
28th Feb 2004, 18:35
Just received this:

There is a planning application to demolish the officers mess and other buildings at RAF Binbrook to build
yuppy houses.
I know many of you will be horrified at this outrage to destroy our aeronautical history and ask you to write
in protest to the district council.

Michelle Clewes
Planning Officer
West Lindsey District Council
26 Spital Terrace
Gainsborough
DN21 2HG

Planning application:- M03/P/741

These are the buildings where some of the RAF and RAAF's most famous and outstanding bomber and fighter
squadrons were based.
See my web page for base squadron and aircraft history.

www.binbrook.demon.co.uk

From the Fairey Battle to the Lightning, Binbrook was always one of the first bases to be operational on type.

Please forward this on to others and let us stop this now!

Regards,

Ray Whiteley - Curator - Lincolnshire Aircraft Preservation Trust (LINCAIR)

BEagle
28th Feb 2004, 20:37
What would you sooner became of the Binbrook OM?

Sadly, it has been closed for many years now. I had the odd visit 15+ years ago and it had a tremendous atmosphere then - including the boots in the bar from Lightning ejectees.

But you don't have to leave an OM unoccupied for long before the building deteriorates to a level which makes its restoration prohibitively expensive. And Binbrook without aeroplanes would be just too depressing to contemplate....

So, knock it down and keep the memories as they were - or let it crumble away. I can't suggest the answer - can anyone?

spitfire
28th Feb 2004, 22:29
Britain built 600 military airfields in the years leading up to and during WW2. I don't support the concept of trying to preserve every building that remains on every one of them.

DamienB
28th Feb 2004, 22:54
As far as I'm aware Binbrook's OM is still in great nick, having been used as offices for most of the last 15 years. I don't care about every pillbox, air raid shelter and stores building but buildings like this and the SHQ surely deserve to remain - particularly given current development fashion on putting up hundreds of houses with no local amenities (shops, village hall, pubs etc.) at all. Retain a building with a proud history and make use of it - be it for local shops, offices, flats, whatever - but don't bulldoze just to replace it with a few box homes.

MLS-12D
3rd Mar 2004, 07:31
I've never even heard of Binbrook, but Damien is correct in his assertion that (at least some) old bases can be converted into civilian housing without bulldozing everything in sight. The effort to convert the former Canadian Forces Base Calgary resulted in a development called "Garrison Woods", which was apparently quite successful and retains many of the original buildings (I would like to say most, but I don't know that for a fact). See further here (http://www.cren.ca/content_view?CONTENT_ID=607), here (http://www.cren.ca/content_view?CONTENT_ID=1143) and here (http://www.garrisonwoods.com/english/).

Cricket23
1st Oct 2006, 21:46
Does anyone know what happened about the planning application, or to put it another way, does the station still exist?

My reason for asking is that I've recently got my PPL and having spent many a happy hour at Binbrook in the '70's I would love to fly over the airfield, or even land there, but I guess that might be asking too much.

Regards,

C23

ZH875
2nd Oct 2006, 18:12
I don't give you much chance of keeping your undercarriage attached, if you land at Binbrook.

http://www.airfield-research-group.co.uk/binbrook2.htm

BossEyed
2nd Oct 2006, 18:25
What would you sooner became of the Binbrook OM?
Sensitive conversion into flats would be the least worst option - as at Old Sarum, for example (http://www.salisbury.gov.uk/old-sarum-airfield-appraisal.pdf). (Caution: 3.9 Mb PDF)

Cricket23
2nd Oct 2006, 18:31
ZH875 - thanks for the info. I'll just have to do a wheels-uplanding! :}

Ah well, I'll have to settle for an overfly.

Cheers,

C23