Help save RAF bicester

[LFFC]

MoD to sell off former RAF Bicester land

MoD to sell off former RAF Bicester land 14 June 2012

A spokesman for the MoD said: "The RAF Bicester site is now surplus to defence requirements."

It seems to have taken them a while to make up thier minds!!

[1.3VStall]

Yes, it has taken a while. No 71 MU left in the 1970s, leaving behind the RAFGSA Centre, which in turn departed for RAF Halton in 1994. Since then the Windrushers Glding Club has been leasing the site from Defence Estates.

[Always a Sapper]

1.3VStall,

IIRC the RAF Gliding moved out in 2004, at least that was around the time the closure/hand over meetings in respect to the Tech Site and the Airfield were held with DE.

Drove past the place a few weeks ago, there's been a bit of demolition on the domestic site but it’s nice to my old office was still standing (the original cookhouse, later converted to a cinema and located near the back gate across the road from the de-contamination building).

The tech site looks even more overgrown now but that comes as no surprise, there was a distinct reluctance to spend anything on it even back then.

As to the supposed decision to sell, again no real surprise there have been lots of attempts to sell the place with some pretty harebrained ideas being floated as to the potential use... One being to convert the hangers into flats.

In respect to planning issues and the local 10 year plan I was told by 'someone' during a site walkabout that the master plan was to just hold on to the place until such time that the local council rolled over on the 10 year plan and allowed expansion and housing in that direction and then sell it lock stock n barrel for development, there was no mention of any thoughts towards any historical consideration, if anything that seemed to be viewed as a very negative aspect of the whole thing and if it all fell down in a heap of bricks then so much the better!

[oldmansquipper]

The old Domestic site is currently being redeveloped into bijou accommodation for the well trousered...The development has been cleverly named "The Garden Quarter"

The development had to consider the historical interest in their designs - see:


The Garden Quarter, Developments, Home - City and Country

[1.3VStall]

AaS,

You are right: my mistake! It was 2004 that the RAFGSA moved out.

[Chugalug2]

LFFC:

It seems to have taken them a while to make up thier minds!!

I rather suspect that their minds have been made up for them. Any money the sale makes will be better than the continuing financial drain of ownership of a site that is protected from any real profitable development, unlike the Domestic Site.
All the more reason then to say two cheers at least for this news. Another heartening move in the bringing of reluctant and grudging recognition of the debt this country owes to the bravery and steadfastness of the members of Bomber Command in WWII. In HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year, that will see the unveiling of the Green Park Bomber Command Memorial to the memory of the 55573 aircrew who gave their lives in that long and dangerous campaign, it is good news for Bomber Command Heritage who have fought so long to save the Technical Site of this historic and unique pre-war ADGB and wartime bomber OTU RAF Station.
Eventually it will hopefully lead to the proper preservation that the site has patiently awaited for decades and of the planned use of it to tell the tale of an all volunteer force of aviators who fought for the "Victory at all Costs" that brought freedom and peace to a benighted continent. Those who think that victory could be achieved without such cost are the very reason that BCH exists.

[bc_heritage]

CDC votes to enter into a strategic partnership with BCH

Hello All,

Chugalug2 hope you are well?

Some good news! This evening Cherwell District Council Executive voted in favour of forming a strategic partnership with us in order to help acquire and transfer the former historic RAF Bicester from the MoD to BCH. This is to help access funding and deploy Council resources to enable the project.

Oh gawd, it's been a hell of a journey, and it will continue to be so, but we ain't letting go. We are in it, to win it! The real work starts right now, and we ain't messin'. To hell with the naysayers. Okay, bit too casual this post, but best it comes from the heart, and we like saying how it is. Kinda fed up with people telling us how hard it is! WE KNOW!

Have mentioned this on our social media sites today, but we really so want to thank everyone that is showing support for what we are attempting to do.

[Chugalug2]

bc heritage, a very warm welcome back to the thread, and with such good news that you bring with you as well! When RAF Bicester becomes the preserved and restored heritage centre planned for it, it will simply be because of the decades of lonely and seemingly hopeless effort made by you and the rest of the BCH team. So "hell of a journey" doesn't even begin to get close to describing it I would guess, but at last the "end of the beginning" is in sight. Nothing worthwhile is easy, and the goal of enabling an informed understanding of the duty and sacrifice that was the WWII RAF Bombing Campaign could not be more worthwhile.
Thank you for coming back to PPRuNe to keep us informed, please continue to do so, just don't leave it so long next time though;-)
Thanks for your personal wishes, yes quite well though often in hot water here! I hope that you too are well and that 2012 can be looked back on as the year that it really came together for BCH and RAF Bicester!
Best wishes to you all, Chug.

[LFFC]

Campaign to save 'last intact' Second World War Bomber Command airbase

[bc_heritage]

Help us Raise Funds! BCH Fighting Fund

There is a danger that the former RAF Bicester, the last intact WWII RAF Bomber Station, will be split up and lost to "mixed development" as usually happens to all historic aerodromes unless Bomber Command Heritage (BCH), in partnership with Cherwell District Council, can acquire the Site and restore it back to its former glory for use as Heritage Centre and major UK visitor attraction with tremendous benefits to the local economy. BCH need to purchase the site immediately from the MoD as well as undertaking wider work to help raise awareness of the importance of the subject and its relevance in the 21st Century.

You can help! Please donate any amount, no matter how big or small, to our "Fighting Fund" by either:
going to our website Bomber Command Heritage Website ...Our Journey Together and simply downloading a Donation Form;
or contacting us via email: [email protected] ;
or sending directly to our Telford Road office.

[bc_heritage]

Seven Year Dream Becoming a Reality.

Hello everyone,

Please find exerts of our new press release. Thanks to everyone who is supporting our project.

SEVEN YEAR DREAM BECOMING A REALITY

A Bomber Command Heritage Living History Site, Education Centre, Museum, International Visitor Attraction and Memorial is planned to open at the former RAF Bicester.

Backing received to acquire former RAF Bicester aerodrome to create a world-class heritage centre and International visitor attraction.

It has been a long seven-year journey for Bomber Command Heritage (BCH) who has finally received the opportunity and backing to acquire the former RAF Bicester aerodrome in Oxfordshire, and restore this best surviving example of an RAF Bomber Station. This will create a unique Bomber Command Heritage site, Education Centre, Museum, and world-class International visitor attraction. The site has been finally put up for sale recently by the MoD, bids have been submitted, and now BCH along with other rival bidders, await the MoD's decision.

Cherwell District and Oxford County Councils have stepped forward to ensure the project is delivered. Located in the heart of the Oxfordshire tourist trail, Bicester Town already has some 4.5m visitors coming to its "Bicester Retail Village." However, BCH believes it can tap into an additional audience from all over the world and bring Bicester and the region the benefits of heritage tourism and employment opportunities by having a world-class visitor attraction on its doorstep. Sue Smith, Chief Executive of Cherwell and South Northants Councils said: "We have been working hard to transform Bicester for our residents. Together with the town redevelopment and planned housing growth, this proposal will not only preserve the heritage of the site and celebrate the lives of the fallen but also provide economic development benefits through providing jobs, engaging with local businesses and growing tourism."

Martin Tugwell, Oxford Council's Deputy Director for Growth and Infrastructure added: "The RAF Bicester site provides a huge opportunity as a cultural and geographical balance to Bicester (Retail) Village, which brings heritage, educational, tourism and leisure opportunities the town really needs. We support the BCH proposal and welcome the opportunity to ensure these outcomes are achieved."

The BCH team also includes Liam O'Connor, award-winning architect of the National RAF Bomber Command Memorial recently opened by The Queen in Green Park, London which was organised by RAF veterans, and the professional fund-raising team responsible for raising finance for a major part of that project. The heritage centre at Bicester is very much a logical next stage to the Bomber Command Memorial as it will explain the importance of the Memorial and the wider subject in a factual, yet engaging way, in a historic setting. The Bomber Command Memorial has become the fourth most popular visitor attraction in London.

Local MP Sir Tony Baldry has also been very supportive in Parliament and said: "I very much hope that Bomber Command Heritage will have the opportunity of acquiring this site from the MoD so that it can become a living museum, enabling future generations to have the best possible understanding of the contribution made by the RAF and by Bomber Command to winning the Second World War."

Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC, AE, Rtd., 10-years Chairman of the Bomber Command Association, is currently BCA Vice President and BCH advisor. Tony is supporting Bomber Command Heritage Centre at Bicester. Tony was an air ace and Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain before transferring to the special elite 617 squadron (Dambusters) and flew 27 operations including all three against the German battleship Tirpitz. Tony then flew as a Captain with BOAC before joining Granada TV and advising on the launch of Eurodisney and enjoying a long and successful career in advertising and public relations,

Chairman of BCH, Dean Overton concluded: "Everybody gets very excited when the see a Lancaster bomber, but few realise the story and sacrifice that it represents, and the relevance in the 21st Century. I have never felt as confident as now that we will achieve our goal of opening the world's first museum and education centre, on a befitting scale, solely dedicated to all-aspects of the WWII story of Bomber Command and the civilian effort. Our bid is totally unique in that it satisfies the MoD in terms of returns for the taxpayer as well as providing a sustainable commercial / training environment for Cherwell - whilst delivering the ultimate Public benefit: open access for all. I guarantee there will not be a more attractive bid than ours on the table, and, despite those that said it can't be done, our dream is now becoming a reality"

[1.3VStall]

So, can anyone tell me where Windrushers Gliding Club, who currently lease the airfield and a hangar from Defence Estates, fit into this proposal?

[bc_heritage]

1.3VStall, ss you know Windrushers Gliding Club have been on the field since the late 50s, and then reformed in 2004, when the RAF Gliding & Soaring Assoc. moved on. As you are aware, or should be aware we have always supported Windrushers Gliding Club. Hope that helps?

After all, we are aviation heritage enthusiasts, and some of us are airworthy examples too!

[Mandator]

Does an active aerodrome feature in your plans? There appears to be no specific commitment to that in your PR.

[bc_heritage]

Mandator, Absolutely indeed, and we will be looking at encouraging in-period (pre-1946) vintage taildraggers both military and civilian as would have been found on an RAF Station at the time. BCH was founded by a passionate bunch of aviation enthusiasts after all.

[Mandator]

Thanks for that expansion on the detail of your plans. I'm very pleased to hear more about your plans to keep the aerodrome active.

[bc_heritage]

Opportunity Lost: MoD Rejects Bomber Command Heritage Bid for RAF Bicester

Hello all. Well, it's all finally happened. Not much to say, apart from thanks for everyone's support over the years. The Government never listened to Sir Arthur Harris back in the day, nor recently, regarding the Bomber Command Clasp, being produced for Aircrew only, so we did not expect for them to listen to us either.

Opportunity Lost: MoD Rejects Bomber Command Heritage Bid for RAF Bicester

BUT, unlike many, we don't suffer the "British Disease" ourselves, so watch this space.

BOMBER COMMAND HERITAGE

[1.3VStall]

BCH, is there no scope for you to work with the new owners to establish some form of museum/memorial? After all, the press release does talk about some form of "aviation facility".

[zetec2]

Update

New owners Bicester Heritage Ltd ,
Quote:
"the company plans to establish a national vintage motoring & aviation facility on the technical site & airfield."
unquote.

At last some good news, PH.

[Chugalug2]

zetec2:-

At last some good news, PH

I wish I could share your enthusiasm, z2. This is a bitter blow for BCH who had worked so hard to achieve their aim of honouring the sacrifice and duty done of Bomber Command by utilising the unique site that is RAF Bicester, a 1920/30's period station frozen in time, to tell the BC story. Unlike the MOD and the modern RAF, they felt that this story had to be told to later generations instead of the default policy of wiping it from the pages of history. It took a Pop Star to ensure that a fitting National Memorial to Bomber Command be provided, albeit nearly 70 years after the event. That Memorial plays proper homage to the 55,573 aircrew who died in that bitter campaign. It was hoped that Bicester would tell their story, indeed tell the story from the original Air Defence of Great Britain, of which it was a part, to the great Strategic Bombing campaign against the Third Reich, for which it helped to train the crews. Evidently that is a move too far, for now at least. The old guard has had its say it seems. They may yet be subverted in their ways. We can but hope.

Racing chief reveals scheme for RAF base (From Oxford Mail)

Edited to add:-
Having read the above, "paintball and indoor go-karting"..."willing to involve BCH". Has Mr Reynard any idea of what BCH's aims are? I very much doubt it.