Mr C Hinecap
13th May 2004, 05:48
From the BBC......
Pressure is growing on the government to reveal the reasons behind its decision to downgrade an RAF base.
Last month, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram announced a number of RAF sites face closure or being scaled down, including Northumberland's RAF Boulmer.
Northumberland County and Alnwick District Councils have now added their voices to calls to make their reasons to downgrade the base public.
Berwick Liberal Democrat MP Alan Beith has already made similar calls.
The plans involve units from bases including Boulmer moving to RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, which means all that would remain is a rescue service.
Job losses
Leaders from both authorities have met Mr Beith and trade unions to set out a campaign calling for the Ministry of Defence to look again and to make their case during the consultation period on the plans, which runs until 7 June.
County Council leader Councillor Michael Davey said: "We do not accept the closure of Boulmer and call on the minister to make the reasons public.
"We are all disappointed but not disheartened. We are totally committed to working with all the parties to help this part of Northumberland."
The authorities commissioned a study by Newcastle University earlier this year which predicted the effects of closing Boulmer would include the loss of 800 jobs and the loss of £18m of local income in salaries.
District Council leader Councillor John Taylor said: "It is difficult to understand the justification for the decision given the limited information we have and the recent expansion and investment in the site."
Poor Cllr Taylor. Fancy not knowing that expansion and investment were sure signs of closure! :(
Pressure is growing on the government to reveal the reasons behind its decision to downgrade an RAF base.
Last month, Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram announced a number of RAF sites face closure or being scaled down, including Northumberland's RAF Boulmer.
Northumberland County and Alnwick District Councils have now added their voices to calls to make their reasons to downgrade the base public.
Berwick Liberal Democrat MP Alan Beith has already made similar calls.
The plans involve units from bases including Boulmer moving to RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, which means all that would remain is a rescue service.
Job losses
Leaders from both authorities have met Mr Beith and trade unions to set out a campaign calling for the Ministry of Defence to look again and to make their case during the consultation period on the plans, which runs until 7 June.
County Council leader Councillor Michael Davey said: "We do not accept the closure of Boulmer and call on the minister to make the reasons public.
"We are all disappointed but not disheartened. We are totally committed to working with all the parties to help this part of Northumberland."
The authorities commissioned a study by Newcastle University earlier this year which predicted the effects of closing Boulmer would include the loss of 800 jobs and the loss of £18m of local income in salaries.
District Council leader Councillor John Taylor said: "It is difficult to understand the justification for the decision given the limited information we have and the recent expansion and investment in the site."
Poor Cllr Taylor. Fancy not knowing that expansion and investment were sure signs of closure! :(