Leeming move delayed

[AonP]

Yet another installment in the great comms hub debacle - how long before they're looking at Scampton again?!
Ministerial Statement Yesterday: RAF Communications (Hub Delay):
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram): I announced on 17 January 2006, Official Report, column 25WS, that to enable themore effective use of Defence resources, an RAF Communications Hub would be formed at RAF Leeming. I also announced that communications personnel would move from RAF Sealand to RAF Leeming by April 2006 and that communications personnel from RAF Brize Norton and RAF High Wycombe would move to RAF Leeming in 2007.
The initial move has been successfully completedon time in April 2006 and around 90 communications personnel from RAF High Wycombe are on schedule to move this year. However, there will now be a phased relocation of communications personnel from RAF Brize Norton to RAF Leeming beginning in summer 2008 as technical and domestic accommodation becomes available. The delay in provision of new-build accommodation has been occasioned by the routine adjustment of funds to ensure that our resources are allocated in line with Defence priorities.
http://www.parliament.the-stationery...07050815000013

[Big Bear]

Time for Change

Why is it that the senior officers in the A6 world who have been involved in this total and utter shambles seem to keep getting promoted when clearly they should be sacked. This whole project has been a demonstration of former TCW people waving their bits at each other. The ineptitude shown throughout this project has been an utter disgrace and would not be tolerated in any other environment. However, the military seem quite content to routinely accept these situations.

I'll get my coat.

[Big Bear]

My info is that very senior officers in the A6 world predicted this shambles almost precisely. Sadly they appear not to have been afforded sufficient credence.

I agree and it appears that some of them are jumping ship. However, there are still some not quite so 'very senior' officers who seem to have done very well out of this issue and are now themselves heading towards 'very senior' status themselves.

Cast not your stones at 'former TCW people', who could have no personal interest in participating in such embarrassment - indeed, more than a few have endured personal and domestic upset as a result of this goat.

I think it is a great shame that TCW are being messed about in this fashion. In this day and age it is totally unacceptable. It is hard enough to maintain morale and welfare on a deployable unit without the uncertainy of not knowing where you and your family are going to be living in 6 months time. Please do not think that I was having a pop at the wing itself - the vast majority of the people who serve there do a stirling job. However you have to agree it can be a breeding ground for inflated egos.

At the end of the day someone is to blame for this mess. Sadly, whoever is responsible will probably end up with an MBE and a nice fat pension instead of being shown the door.

[Inspector Dreyfuss]

Earswentpop

I suspect that you are spot on - perhaps some members of STC Plans were giving BKB the answers he wanted. Change was undoubtedly needed - reduce real estate, reduce overheads, relocate to save money. Entirely laudable and a good plan to ensure that there were funds for the GR4s etc to keep flying. However, the sums were wrong and relocation of units such as TCW and the ASACS was also going to cost a lot more than the original woefully optimistic estimates. Add to that perhaps a number of yes men & advanced group think at High Wycombe - combined with a strong charismatic leader and the recipe for a balls up was there to see. Disputing the rose-tinted spectacled relocation plan with HQ staffs was a good recipe for kippering your career (as I found out). No one wanted to hear any views outside of the party line and the result is the current shambles with various stations now in limbo such as Scampton etc. A number of bases are therefore affected badly by planning blight. with frankly shoddy infrastructure and a comparative lack the sort of modern facilities that Coningsby and others are now enjoying. The airmen deserve rather better.

[Cumbrian Fell]

For once, don't blame DE

The problem with the move to Leeming, was, is, and will be money, in particular, cash in the Capital programme. A consortium, with considerable technical assistance from some dedicated Defence Estates personnel, worked very hard to provide accommodation to meet the move requirements (indeed funding was even sourced from another TLB) however the RAF could not meet the 07/08 balance, in part due the enormous increase in cost to refurbish the runway at another station.
That's it.

[Big Bear]

...however the RAF could not meet the 07/08 balance, in part due the enormous increase in cost to refurbish the runway at another station.

And no doubt also due to the fact that a considerable sum of money was wasted on the Scampton 'White Elephant'.

[Top Right]

Gents,

Connect also this thread:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...errerid=143971

Big Bear and Inspector D - check PMs

Earswentpop - you are quite right, the A6 world had nothing to gain from the plan failing

[cornish-stormrider]

My rolling Goat f^*k detector just melted!!