Boulmer/Scampton Moves

[Arclite01]

Gents

I know some people who are getting posted from East Anglia to Boulmer en route Scampton (if the rumour mill is correct).

There has been a lot posted here about moves so can anyone give some more info on:

The MQ situation at Boulmer - are they available and what are they like ?

Are private hirings an option around Boulmer ?

What is the availability of private hirings around Boulmer ?

What is Boulmer camp like nowadays - has it had any modernisation lately ?

Moves to Scampton later on - what are the MQs like there now, there are rumours of newbuilds - any more info ?

Any progress on the Lincolnshire Accomodation Plan ? - or is allocation of MQ just 'hit and miss', if you get one allocated does a move of station around Lincolnshire mean a change of MQ or is there a good chance of staying in the same MQ ?

If there is a shortage of MQs is there a shortage of private hirings too ?

What is Scampton camp like nowadays - has it been modernised at all ?

Any help on the above gratefully received

cheers guys


Arc

[Pontius Navigator]

The following ansers are no way definitive but based on observations only.

<<I know some people who are getting posted from East Anglia to Boulmer en route Scampton (if the rumour mill is correct).>>

Possible but the move to Scampton is a year or so off so bases everywhere would still be full.

<<The MQ situation at Boulmer - are they available and what are they like ?>>

A few months ago it was easy for a FO to get a 4-bed quarter and he was a stude. Then a FL staff was stucj in a 3 bed. The standard was very good. Well decorated, good kitchen, power shower, wash basins in 2 bedrooms and 5 in total!

<<Are private hirings an option around Boulmer ?>>

Definitely. Annington sold off a couple of terraces of basic airmen's quarters for about £100k. Apparently some sick parrots bought them hoping for a killing letting them out as hirings. At least a Neat move will let these wg cdr's etc off the hook.

<<What is Boulmer camp like nowadays - has it had any modernisation lately ?>>

Of course it has been modified, that is why they will close it. Social is quite good I understand.

<<Moves to Scampton later on - what are the MQs like there now, there are rumours of newbuilds - any more info ?>>

They would need to do new build having sold off many and let lots to Waddo personnel.

<<Any progress on the Lincolnshire Accomodation Plan ? - or is allocation of MQ just 'hit and miss', if you get one allocated does a move of station around Lincolnshire mean a change of MQ or is there a good chance of staying in the same MQ ?>>

Not heard of this but I know of one person posted from CGY to Waddo who stayed put. It will probably be pot luck with Scampton personnel backfilling at Waddo <g>.

<<If there is a shortage of MQs is there a shortage of private hirings too ?>>

Yup. This is a university city but lots of new buiding about £200k up hill Lincoln.

<<What is Scampton camp like nowadays - has it been modernised at all ?>>

Sh1t - for the Reds? You must be joking.

[ZH875]

The MQ's at Scampton are a mixed bunch. The old OMQ's are now used by all ranks, but there are still some of the AMQ's in use, and a fair few empty ones. Standards vary, some still have the old single glazed metal framed windows, and some are half decent. Funding is in place (ha ha ha) to put electric showers in them all. Parking in the AMQ area is crap, narrow roads and cars parking on verges/road (the sold off civvy ones have some parking!). Currently there is a wooden shed used as the families club, open to all inc civvies. The main problem is getting off camp across the A15 in the morning rush hour - can take 10 minutes if sat behind a hesitant driver.

There are 3 buses a day to Lincoln - with the last one returning to Scampton at 16:45.

The Spar shop is small and is a rip off, a 4pt bottle of milk is £1.07 at Waddington and £1.27 at Scampton, because it is classed as a Spar Express shop. There is a Post office when it can be bothered to open, and at least you have nowhere to waste a pound on a lottery ticket.

Modernisation to the camp has begun, the old Blue Steel (then SADSU) hangar has just been demolished, the bowling alley is in fine fettle - but was relocated to Cranwell a few years ago.

The Officers mess has had the climbing plants trimmed, but is a shambles with decaying wooden windows, the airmens blocks are single glazed metal windowed and are probably still multi person rooms. A WO has been drafted/recruited to oversee the rebuilding of Scampton to a decent standard.

maybe they just might regenerate the OMQ site at RAF Newton, as they are in a slightly better state than some of the quarters at Scampton.

[pr00ne]

ZH875,

Might not Kirton in Lindsay be a better bet for accomodation? Just up the road, Army just moved out, might it not serve as a Scampton annexe?

Surely you guys are being a little hasty here, the move to a new overground ASACS centre is not due to be complete until 2012, leaving plenty of time to rebuild Scampton and it's environs.

The guys and gals due in by 2006 may find it a little austere mind you!

[SirToppamHat]

The new overground CRC, which will fulfil a similar role as Buchan currently does, should be on-line by Q3 of 2005. No1 ACC and other units (eg SFC, TCW etc etc) are not expected to complete their move until 2012-2015, but my understanding is that they will move a lot earlier if feasible.

Domestic accommodation availability does not seem to be of great concern to the planners.

By the way, I understand the DHE are planning to build a load of FQs in the Lincoln area. However, as it will be done as a PFI, there no guarantee (indeed I would say it is unlikely) that the FQs will be built 'within the wire'.

[JessTheDog]

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/default.asp?WCI=NewsItem&WCE=435

From the English Heritage website:

RAF SCAMPTON, LINCOLNSHIRE

This is a large military airfield site with one of the longest runways in Britain, extended to cope with the V-bomber force during the Cold War. There are numerous ancillary buildings dating from post WW1 and WW2, service housing, and more recent Cold War elements. There are archaeological interests on the site. English Heritage will be carrying out a "characterisation" of the site to inform how it should be managed in a way which protects what is important and yet is flexible enough to deal with significant operational and development pressures.

You couldn't make it up! Our Airships (god bless em!) are moving thousands of personnel onto a station that is an English Heritage listed site! This will have cost implications for costs of new builds, refurbishments etc - how can this be best value to the taxpayer?

Does this mean that the quality of service accommodation will be affected? The guys could end up living in Nissen huts and going to work in number 1s, for a real period authentic feel!

[SirToppamHat]

The planners indicated, during their recent briefing, that they were aware of the status of the site when the decision was made. Having spoken to English Heritage, they were apparently satisfied that the MoD could work with them and that EH's requirements would not impact on the plans. Only time will tell...

[JessTheDog]

The acid test will be if a dispute between EH and MOD arises. MOD have no statutory power above and beyond any other organisation in the same position, since the demise of Crown immunity. I wonder if the additional costs to meet EH requirements can be quantified.....

[BEagle]

Is the famous grave of the 'Black labrador of non-politically correct name' still there outside what used to be 617's hangar? Or was it re-located elsewhere? That must have some considerable historical significance!

[SirToppamHat]

I believe said grave is still there; suspect it will be a key point of interest for English Heritage. Not sure whose hangar it will be outside though (they have, apparently, already been allocated to the various units).

I wonder whether any other stations have attracted the interest of EH? I would have thought Coltishall had a pretty good case, along with Duxford and any number of other stations.

[Rock Outboard]

Beagle,

Has that famous dog had it's grave moved yet again?

I remember listening to the 617 Sqn adjutant giving a short lecture outside their hangar to the assembled old bods during a Dams Raid reunion back in the early 1970's and when he came to the bit about how N#++er died and was buried there, one old bloke interrupted to say,”he’s not buried there! Me and my mate Nobby had to dig the bloody hole and we buried him over there", and jerked his thumb towards a point some 200 yards away near where the current Ops Block is. How we eavesdroppers on 35 Sqn tittered!

[814man]

STH
I was involved in EH Cold War project as unit historian at the closure of the ASU at RAF Wittering in 2002. We actually visited Barnham, Faldingworth, Waddington, Scampton, Marham and Honington, as well as the ASU site at Wittering to collect material and photographs, and no doubt others were looked at as well. Some old buildings were marked for preservation but I have to say that I found the EH staff to be very pragmatic and I doubt that they will simply be slapping preservation orders on stations at will.
If you go to the English Heritage site and search for Cold War you’ll get more info on their research into this particular period of RAF history.

[Descend to What Height?!?]

Was there not that long ago. Station is in a very bad state, with lots of work to do. New boundary fence goes through OM front drive. Most building on site need to be demolished and rebuilt. Only a few are habitable, and we are getting one of them when we move there in the summer, as one of the first ACSUs in. It still however needs a lot of work.
Met the "SWO" good bloke, with a can do attitude.

Question is, as one of the first units in, do we get stung for duty officer/nco every day until the rest of the world moves in after several years? Could be fun....NOT!

[Avoiding Action]

Welcome to the world of living on a 'small' RAF camp with minimum no of SNCOs and offrs:{ :{ :{ ;)

[ZH875]

Nice to see Annington are selling off some 4 and 6 bedroom houses at Scampton, release date 23 July.

The only 6 bed houses I can thin of are the few which the Station big-wigs used to live in. This should please the big-wig from Waddo who lives in one of them.

Doesn't Scampton need any houses when it re-opens, rumour has it that they will be using quarters at Kirton Lindsey.

So if you live at Scampton, you can Work at Waddington, but if you work at Scampton, you have to live at K-I-L. Sort of makes sense.

They are also flogging quarters at Coningsby, good job the Tyfun is a wee bit late.

[Mr C Hinecap]

you don't want one of the Coningsby quarters. Basrah Road comes to mind. They are getting rid of the dross. There are newer quarters there as well.

[Stitchbitch]

Apparently Conners AMQs are new build and the Castlefields and 'bronx' sites have been sold off , not sure about the "seniors" though, but they weren't that bad from what I remember.:}

[Descend to What Height?!?]

News reaches us this week that the project is on temporary hold. Some problem with negotiations with Unions it looks like. The result is that the project has not yet, despite previous news, got official go ahead.

Great news seeing 5 of the folk here have had offers accepted on houses in the area!!!
:rolleyes: :uhoh: :rolleyes:

[SpotterFC]

The project never had official go ahead. All MinAF ever said (at least all we were told) was that he was minded to accept the MUBS proposals. He's a politician - just 'cos he thought it was a good idea then doesn't mean that it still is - but it's not a u-turn you understand, oh no. Couldn't have anything to do with the number of trades unions disaffiliating could it?:rolleyes:

[JessTheDog]

Suspect the extension of the union "consultation" was agreed to in order to delay the formal announcement until after the local/European elections.

[Gainesy]

For Shame Jess.

No self-respecting, morally upright politician would pull a stunt like that.










... but as we have only self-worshipping, morally defunct politicians, yer prolly dead right.