West Drayton
 

Can anyone tell me when West Drayton will be closing ? I hear various timescales and dates, but nothing definitive. I'm involved on the present re-development of the former RAF W/D next door, so I obviously have an interest. Thanx

I understand that the civil side is talking about November. It is still a bit of a secret as to when they will move us military types out. I'm sure someone knows...........:\

re move
 

yes us civvies have been given Nov 2007.

:)

Last I heard was that NATS will have moved all their equipment out and hand the site back to the MoD in Jan 2009.

BD

I'm amazed at this thread. If the originator is "officially" involved with the re-development why does he have to ask questions on here?

I don't think NATS generally shares its plans for its operational sites with building developers, so it's as good a place to ask as any :ok:

But the site is owned by MoD, so its up to them when its sold off for development. sooner the better! :)

BD

HD -

If you read his post properly, he is involved with the development of the old RAF livinq quarters. He has nothing to do with NATS!!

You obviously have a great (misplaced) faith in NATS if you believe their communication channels are good/professional enough to tell outsiders a timeline.... hell, they struggle to tell their own workforce important things at times!!

Sorry HD. Didn't realise it was such a sin. Tell me, how does one become a member of the self-appointed thread / forum police ?

C`mon Will. The answer is in your question. "self-appointed"

Friday 23rd November 2007

(the plan this week, anyway)

Thats the date for the move of TC to Swanwick. LMARS goes a couple of months after, then the engineers begin shutting all the systems down and the site is handed over by NATS back to the MOD in Jan 2009.

BD

"Right lads.....that's them all gone, lets start pulling this wall down!"

"Hey boss...look over here...what's this plug for?"

"Ah just pull it out"........................................................ ..Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzupppp!





"Nonsuch 25C descend FL250 to be level by Gibso"........"Nonsuch 25C radio check...........

Widger, if you go to the Free Independent State of Scotland, you will find that their progressive thinking allowed them to pull the plug some 3 years before they were meant to. ;)

Ah yes, but who knows what lurks in the basement of HMP West Drayton. There is probably a Rock Ape down there, holding two wires together with bodge tape!

Don't know if you're aware Widger, but West Drayton did originally house a court martial centre and military detention centre before it was re-developed for the ATCC to move in from Uxbridge & Heathrow(early/mid '60s?).

There is still a hangman's noose downstairs, just next to that dark and dismall place you go to change your headset.;)

Just as an aside, I was on the redevelopment site rececently when I saw a boffin carrying all sorts of equipment. Transpired he was testing for radiation. He went on to tell me that after WWII a lot of aircraft were broken up at West Drayton, and he believed there were lots of cockpit instruments buried there. Apparantly, the dials were luminous which makes them radioactive. He went on to tell me that back-lit dials could be seen by the Luftwaffe fighter pilots. Don't know how true all this is, but it interested me ! Have a nice day.

Weekend of 25th January 2008, but I'm sure you already know that. ;)

BD