Defence Estate Rationalisation
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Defence Estate Rationalisation
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/c...ion-Update.pdf
Highlights:
Highlights:
- Lightning II to be based at RAF Marham
- 1(F) and 6 Sqns to transfer to RAF Lossiemouth by autumn 2014 and Leuchars to transfer to Army
- 6 FP Wg and 58 Sqn RAF Regt to be disbanded
- RAF Wyton airfield to close by mid-2014
- 57(R) Sqn (Wyton EFT) to relocate to Cranwell by mid-2013
- Cambridge, London and East Mids UASs, 5 AEF and 115(R) Sqn (EFT CFS) to relocate to Wittering by mid-2014
- RAF Church Fenton to close by end-2013
- Yorkshire UAS and 9 AEF to relocate to as-yet undecided location
- ScATCC (Mil) to close
- I bet the SNP whinge about the Lightning II decision, even though Lossie will end up with 3 Typhoon squadrons.
- Sad to see Wyton airfield close for a second time.
- "London" UAS? At Wittering?! On that basis, expect Yorkshire UAS to go there too!
- Wittering Mess could become "party central", of the kind not seen since the closure of RAF Newton. Oh to be a 22-year-old holding officer with a room conveniently located close to the bar and a ready supply of UAS 'ladies'...
Last edited by Easy Street; 25th Mar 2013 at 21:17.
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It looks pretty terminal for Wyton's airfield with remarks like:
We are working closely with the Homes and Communities Agency on the possibility of them acquiring part of the Wyton airfield since it has potential for new housing growth as identified in Huntingdon District Council's emerging Local Plan.
20 years ago when Wyton was "due to close" the investment appraisal was based on proceeds of sale of the airfield. however, as with many "expansion" airfields, ISTR the ownership reverts to the landowner from whom it was bought pre-war - at the same price (ie not inflated) - so a few thousand pounds. Watch this space.............................
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Be interesting to hear the clean up plans for the Wyton airfield. Rumours have circulated for years about the various crap that has either leaked into, or been buried on the airfield.
S-D
S-D
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Base retention justification
I have often wondered why with all the money that is being p1ssed to the wall on estates that nobody has ever thought of co-locating smaller units into the bigger bases, even if it means different services sharing the same estate.
For example
3 TA Units in Ayr, Prestwick and Irvine yet there is HMS Gannet with unused Ground an facilities
A TA Unit less than 2 miles from HMS Condor
2 TA Units in spitting distance of Faslane
Surely getting rid of these properties would save running costs and add justification to retaining the bigger bases
I dare say there 100's more
Al
For example
3 TA Units in Ayr, Prestwick and Irvine yet there is HMS Gannet with unused Ground an facilities
A TA Unit less than 2 miles from HMS Condor
2 TA Units in spitting distance of Faslane
Surely getting rid of these properties would save running costs and add justification to retaining the bigger bases
I dare say there 100's more
Al
I bet the SNP whinge about the Lightning II decision, even though Lossie will end up with 3 Typhoon squadrons
Ssshhh! No-one tell them...
Aside from Brampton moving into Wyton for the great Intel 'love in', there is also 42 Eng Regt moving in. I don't see much room for any aircraft. I reckon flying is finished for good...
S-D - From talking to various people over the years Wyton had 2 fully loaded PFF Lancasters blow up on dispersal - did all the munitions cook off or did some go up, come down and bury themselves in the soil? There was also a Meteor crash on the airfield in the fifties not to mention any fuel leakage from the BFI etc. I think the last time the site was mooted as being up for sale the remediation costs might have outweighed the sale value.
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brokenlink, sounds like we heard the same rumours:
add to that fuel, oils and other contaminants washed off the pans following spillages. Spillages from the WWII HALO runway lighting and the rumours of what was buried around the site after the end of WWII.
I'm sure it's possible to clean up the ground, but not sure I'd like to live there. Too close to Ramsey anyway
S-D
add to that fuel, oils and other contaminants washed off the pans following spillages. Spillages from the WWII HALO runway lighting and the rumours of what was buried around the site after the end of WWII.
I'm sure it's possible to clean up the ground, but not sure I'd like to live there. Too close to Ramsey anyway
S-D
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At least Wyton is staying partially open! One of the bases both my Grandfather and I served at. Him on PFF Lancs and me at DE&S, separated by some 62 years.
When I was at Wittering all the nurses from Peterborough were also accomodated there. Party Central sounds about right..... ;-)
When I was at Wittering all the nurses from Peterborough were also accomodated there. Party Central sounds about right..... ;-)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
How about naming it after a General, Trenchard for instance?
Digressing, while our young officers become aware of Trenchard and Tedder how many others do they learn about and know? Harris probably and Dowding possibly. Others?
Then squadrons. My first sqn was just two types removed from its wartime aircraft and still in its primary bomber role as was the second and indeed the third. Now, with reserve sqns badged to keep the number plates alive how many know their sqn histories? Not the simple paragraphs on web sites but the more meaningful and detailed ones.
Digressing, while our young officers become aware of Trenchard and Tedder how many others do they learn about and know? Harris probably and Dowding possibly. Others?
Then squadrons. My first sqn was just two types removed from its wartime aircraft and still in its primary bomber role as was the second and indeed the third. Now, with reserve sqns badged to keep the number plates alive how many know their sqn histories? Not the simple paragraphs on web sites but the more meaningful and detailed ones.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 26th Mar 2013 at 09:09.
LJ - fixed-wing flying will cease at Wyton forever. The plans for a new housing estate take out virtually all the runway. Sad, but true.
I don't think it will be long until the station takes on a new name that doesn't involve RAF in the title since there are so many Army & Navy uniforms arriving.
What will happen to the Canberra gate guard too?
I don't think it will be long until the station takes on a new name that doesn't involve RAF in the title since there are so many Army & Navy uniforms arriving.
What will happen to the Canberra gate guard too?
Last edited by just another jocky; 26th Mar 2013 at 09:26.
Wyton was subject to a huge amount of remediation in the 1990s (especially around the 'Photo factory'). It is an urban myth that Wyton has to revert to its original owners (same myth perpertuated about Halton, inter alia). The land for Wyton was purchased by the Air Ministry during the expansion programme, as were all the other 'Expansion Phase' airfields. Only the airfields constructed in a hurry after 1938 that were requisitioned under Emergency powers legislation - such as Lyneham - and are thus offered back to the original owners at the unimproved value.
I suspect that the RAF Stan Cdr role will go when flying ceases at Wyton; in real terms the Stn Cdr is COS J1-9 under the ICG 1*, without the interesting bits.
I suspect that the RAF Stan Cdr role will go when flying ceases at Wyton; in real terms the Stn Cdr is COS J1-9 under the ICG 1*, without the interesting bits.
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 26th Mar 2013 at 10:14.
WhenurH - not urban myth, researched carefully early 90s (I know, I was involved as OC Handbrakes). Halton House (don't know about the estate) also reverts, in that case to the Rothschilds. In Wyton case in the early 90s it blew the investment appraisal, and "Yours aye (I) Wy(i)n" not too happy!
Digressing, while our young officers become aware of Trenchard and Tedder how many others do they learn about and know? Harris probably and Dowding possibly. Others?
Same with aces. Have there been any post WW2?