Coltishall has been sold to the Norfolk County Council and they are after suggestions

[NutLoose]

As to what to do with it, they have already started to prevent some of the buildings deteriorating further, so if you have any thoughts, get them in.

See

Norfolk County Council - Norfolk County Council buys former RAF Coltishall site (http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/Business/Raf_coltishall/index.htm)

[Easy Street]

Perhaps they could refurbish it and offer it to the MoD as the second Typhoon base after Scottish independence? :E

[Hueymeister]

Has the Officers' Mess survived?

[The Helpful Stacker]

Perhaps they could lease it to the MoD, for the RAF to relocate Lossiemouth's planned squadrons there or something.

NCC could swallow the purchase cost and take a peppercorn rent, considering the positives such a move would have to the local area's economy.

Edited to add: uncanny 'Easy Street'.

[NutLoose]

Most of the barrack blocks and airman's mess were absorbed into the sex offenders prison..

English Heritage did a site survey which is here

http://services.english-heritage.org.uk/ResearchReportsPdfs/068_2007WEB.pdf

[NutLoose]

This was it in January, I take it some are the Officers mess?

Report - Raf Coltishal, Norwich, Norfolk. January 2013 (http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/military-sites/79188-raf-coltishal-norwich-norfolk-january-2013-a.html)

[John Blakeley]

NCC's vision for Coltishall is in today's EDP - this is the link: Vision for Coltishall is revealed - Politics - Eastern Daily Press (http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/vision_for_coltishall_is_revealed_1_2294846) .

[NutLoose]

http://www.edp24.co.uk/polopoly_fs/xxx_04_raf_coltishall_1_2294845!image/2766799294.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_630/2766799294.jpg


Thanks for that, judging by the hangar scheme shown, all that is missing is Thunderbird Two parked above them, as they resemble its pods.

:)

[Stuff]

but why is that shifty security guard marching a Guantanamo detainee across the front of 4 hangar?

[Bigpants]

Airport Manager Mr Alan Partridge?

[CoffmanStarter]

Nutty ...

Do you know if the Hanger Art Work is to be saved/preserved ?

Colt Hanger Art Work (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahwoodburn/sets/72157624826848481/detail/)

Best ...

Coff.

[tailchase]

In other words they don't have a clue what to do with the site and there isn't the sort of money avail without significant investment from industry to even begin to think about a major revamp. Minor projects may go ahead on parts of the site - such as the holiday option, but without a major road project (and the new Northern Distributor Road doesn't get within 5 miles of the old place), then it will just remain a reminder of what old airfields become when they are no longer that - history. A solar power site was on the cards for Neatishead (albeit a different regional council area) and that went nowhere because despite its 'green-ness' it still had restrictions placed on its overall plan. In this day and age even if money can be found the sad reaction to most improvements is that Nimbyism kicks in because change is scary!
Let's face it - if the MOD couldn't sell the idea to the Army what chance has the old place got!

[TBM-Legend]

Any runway preserved for a local airpark????

[Gulfstreamaviator]

aeropark...use the ends for gravel or whatever.

I would love to see UK aeroparks.

glf

[NutLoose]

I don't know Coff, but wasn't some of it listed?

[tailchase]

For what - long walk to the nearest pub!

[Milo Minderbinder]

mothball it for use as a detention centre for when the great jihad eventually becomes too much for us to live with.
Its nice and conveniently distant from any islamic centres of population. So stick them all in there out of the way

[NutLoose]

Part of it is now the peado prison, which takes in most of the Airman's accomodation and mess / NAAFI..

Milo far better useage would be one of the numerous uninhabited islands off the top of Scotland... As long as it's not within swimming distance.. Garvie island would seem ideal....



..

[Milo Minderbinder]

No not Garvie. Too much unexploded ordnance lying around for them to experiment with

How about St Kilda? That would be cheap to run as theres plenty of sheep running wild, especially or Boreray. They could catch their own food. Just have to make sure they don't have any knives though, just to be on the safe side

[goofer3]

Planning application could see diggers ripping up RAF Coltishall runway this spring. :(

Planning application could see diggers ripping up RAF Coltishall runway this spring - Politics - Eastern Daily Press (http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/planning_application_could_see_diggers_ripping_up_raf_coltis hall_runway_this_spring_1_3297990)

[PapaDolmio]

Don't really care what they do with it, worst posting in 30 years service!

[Lima Juliet]

So I guess that's the end to the dream of an 'Alan Partridge International Airport' then!

LJ :ok:

[PapaDolmio]

Colt would never be viable for civil use without decent road links, the same reason Norwich a/p has never realised its potential. Until the proposed northern Norwich ring road is built it's going nowhere.

[Alber Ratman]

Totally agree PapaD. Links to Colt were always rubbish and there was no way it was going to replace NWI. I loved my time at Colt, but as infrastructure was concerned, money was never spent on it for years, the blocks had to be done up for Prisoners! If nobody seriously wishes to use it for aviation, what use does it have as it is? Then again, I now work at NWI, live a stones throw from the route of the NDR and it see a nice bit of cash in the bank from the claim and I will get to work quicker.. Remember the past, don't try and stay in it.

[gr4techie]

Any truth behind the rumour that the standard of RAF Coltishall's accommodation wasn't good enough for the prison service?

[FantomZorbin]

Any truth behind the rumour that the standard of RAF Coltishall's accommodation wasn't good enough for the prison service?

Quite true ... it was just the same for RAF Lindholme!

[aw ditor]

And Oakington when it became a Detention Centre under the Home Office'!

[PapaDolmio]

True, the airmans accom at Colt was appalling when I was there in 2002-2003. I guess it always sufffered from having the axe hanging over it for years. I guess the budget was never used to improve things just to keep things going. I did wonder at the logic of building a new aircrew feeder just as they announced the closure though!
On a slightly different note, the wonderful Norfolk County Council published the latest plans for the northern ring road last week and guess what-it's not a ring road. No link from the A47 from the west. If you want to get to nwi on the ring road you'll have to go all the way round south of norwich to get to the airport!

[FantomZorbin]

PapaD.

No link from the A47 from the west

I was told by a Councillor that 'they' didn't want the link as it would encourage too many vehicles to use it!! :ugh::ugh:


NFN!

[PapaDolmio]

Sounds about right!

[fantom]

I suggest the NCC ask the military to send a couple or three squadrons there and make it a fighter base.

[Ronald Reagan]

Shame they could not close Coningsby and move the Typhoon fleet to Coltishall, much nicer part of the country that part of Norfolk!

[Wander00]

Worked for NCC 1972-74 as Local Government Reorganisation Project Manager - the "new" County Council absorbed the major functions of the City (= County Borough) of Norwich. Difference in culture between old and new County Council was quite unbelievable - in fact many of the (Tory) County Councillors had never fought an election before that for the "new" CC. Some fantastic characters - many future MPs and Members of the HoL - Pat Hollis was particularly memorable, along with Sir Arthur South, former Chairman of Norwich City. Seems nothing much has changed - I think they invented NIMBY!

[Non Emmett]

Looking for suggestions ? Take care to avoid losing three million pounds a year as Cornwall Council do at Newquay having taken over the St. Mawgan airfield. Assuming they put together some good ideas for Coltishall perhaps someone could give Cornwall Council a call.........

[Alber Ratman]

If you were coming up to use the airport from the South (A 11) it would take the same time via the ring road (either way) as it would by the A 47/NDR both ways.. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/evil.gifhttp://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/evil.gif


Poringland ducks stop magical narfalk roundabout.. ;)

[goudie]

If you long for the good old days, this'll make
you weep!:sad:

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/204879 (http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/204879)

[Hangarshuffle]

I think that would be the greatest tribute of all. Flatten it. Recycle all the steel, concrete, hard-core and tarmac.
Re plant the fields, lay some hedges, meadows, woodland.
Place a simple stone in memory of the past.
Would like to see that done with all the ex WW2 eyesores.

[CoffmanStarter]

Excellent find Goudie :ok:

[L J R]

Relocation of the 'Thunder City' when South Africa can no longer afford it. Get the Twin Seat Jags added to the collection and offer paid joyriding.....