BBC: 15 military airfields have been earmarked for closure over the next six years.
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BBC: 15 military airfields have been earmarked for closure over the next six years.
According to the BBC report the airfields earmarked for potential closure are:
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Alconbury, Cambridgeshire
Arbroath, Angus
Brawdy, Pembrokeshire
Chivenor, Devon
Colerne, Wiltshire
Dishforth, North Yorkshire
Halton, Buckinghamshire
Henlow, Bedfordshire
Mildenhall, Suffolk
Molesworth, Cambridgeshire
North Luffenham, Rutland
Wethersfield, Essex
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Wyton, Cambridgeshire
Call to save military airfields from closure - BBC News
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Alconbury, Cambridgeshire
Arbroath, Angus
Brawdy, Pembrokeshire
Chivenor, Devon
Colerne, Wiltshire
Dishforth, North Yorkshire
Halton, Buckinghamshire
Henlow, Bedfordshire
Mildenhall, Suffolk
Molesworth, Cambridgeshire
North Luffenham, Rutland
Wethersfield, Essex
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Wyton, Cambridgeshire
Call to save military airfields from closure - BBC News
Not a lot of Molesworth left to dispose of; the runways were dug up years ago when they built the cruise missile bunkers.
Apart from that, the rest of them would be worth saving.
Apart from that, the rest of them would be worth saving.
Would be nice to see Chivenor stay open as a GA airfield. I have never managed to get permission to land there in my Bulldog, even though I used to fly from there in the military.
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When was North Luffenham last an airfield? What was left after Midland Radar closed some 20+ years ago?
"The station was taken over by the British Army and renamed St George's Barracks in 1998.[5]"
"The station was taken over by the British Army and renamed St George's Barracks in 1998.[5]"
I’m not convinced by that list at all, unless you mean in the sense of operating aircraft. Molesworth is predominantly US / NATO facility; there was talk about it closing and the resident units moving to Croughton but I think the lack of infra there either delayed or scrubbed it. As for Wyton, that’s now a JFC unit and they’ve recently spent the best part of £300M moving units in with the prospect for more to come. That’s definitely not closing any time.
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For those of us up early, it was interesting to read that the Beeb had thoughtfully relocated Halton, to, erm, Cheshire.
It's an easy mistake to make really given there is a district in Cheshire called Halton, albeit not quite as leafy as the one near Wendover.
This little geographical error has now been subjected to A.L.1 action and has possibly saved a fortune in amending maps of all varieties accordingly.
It's an easy mistake to make really given there is a district in Cheshire called Halton, albeit not quite as leafy as the one near Wendover.
This little geographical error has now been subjected to A.L.1 action and has possibly saved a fortune in amending maps of all varieties accordingly.
As they are mainly in the nicer parts of the UK, most of those airfields have sadly been squaddified and rendered unsuitable for aviation purposes.
As for the idiots who let Heaven-in-Devon be taken over by the Royal Marines, words fail me.
Shapps and the APPG for GA airfields group should really have done more research before releasing that list.
As for the idiots who let Heaven-in-Devon be taken over by the Royal Marines, words fail me.
Shapps and the APPG for GA airfields group should really have done more research before releasing that list.
For those of us up early, it was interesting to read that the Beeb had thoughtfully relocated Halton, to, erm, Cheshire.
It's an easy mistake to make really given there is a district in Cheshire called Halton, albeit not quite as leafy as the one near Wendover.
This little geographical error has now been subjected to A.L.1 action and has possibly saved a fortune in amending maps of all varieties accordingly.
It's an easy mistake to make really given there is a district in Cheshire called Halton, albeit not quite as leafy as the one near Wendover.
This little geographical error has now been subjected to A.L.1 action and has possibly saved a fortune in amending maps of all varieties accordingly.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
two chances, slim and none - and Slim's out of town right now.....
Sold-off airfields needed for future conflict, say MPs
Military airfields being sold by the government should be kept for aviation use so they can be brought back into service during any future conflict, MPs and peers have demanded.
The 15 bases, some dating back to the First World War, have been selected for closure as part of the Ministry of Defence’s plan to raise £1 billion from land sales. The sell-off list includes RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, one of the largest RAF stations, which has been used by aircraft since 1913, and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, which was used by RAF Bomber Command in the Second World War and is now used by the US Air Force. A third of the airfields facing closure have already been earmarked for housing estates.
The all-party parliamentary group on general aviation has written to Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, about its “deep and growing concern” over the sale of the airbases. The group of 148 MPs and peers said that the airfields were “scarce national assets” that would be virtually impossible to replace because of the difficulty in obtaining permission to build new runways. Recent operations in Syria highlight that it is “difficult to accurately predict future defence needs”, the group argued. It says at least some of the military aerodromes under threat should be retained in aviation use to support jobs and the economy and as a standby for the military in future.
Grant Shapps, the Conservative MP and chairman of the all-party group, said: “At a time when the UK and our allies are facing significant global threats and uncertainties, the all-party group on general aviation is deeply concerned to see the Ministry of Defence disposing of military aerodromes across the country. Airfields are national assets which are virtually impossible to replace.” The group has urged the Ministry of Defence to work closely with the Department for Transport and Byron Davies, who was appointed as the government’s general aviation champion in February, to ensure that the majority of the airfields remain available for aviation use. Mr Shapps added: “Once these airfields are built on, they will be lost to the nation, for ever.”
Other bases due to close include RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire, which was used for training by the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and was a bomber base during the Second World War. Plans to build 4,500 homes on the site have been rejected by the local authority. RAF North Luffenham in Rutland was also used by bombers during the Second World War. It is the proposed site of a new “garden village”.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “A defence minister will be pleased to meet with the parliamentary group. Around £300 million investment has recently been announced into key RAF sites across the UK. Where airfields are no longer required we will work closely with potential buyers and the local council to make sure that the sites’ future use best meets the needs of the local economy, including providing thousands of much-needed new housing or their potential for use as civilian airfields.”
Sold-off airfields needed for future conflict, say MPs
Military airfields being sold by the government should be kept for aviation use so they can be brought back into service during any future conflict, MPs and peers have demanded.
The 15 bases, some dating back to the First World War, have been selected for closure as part of the Ministry of Defence’s plan to raise £1 billion from land sales. The sell-off list includes RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, one of the largest RAF stations, which has been used by aircraft since 1913, and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, which was used by RAF Bomber Command in the Second World War and is now used by the US Air Force. A third of the airfields facing closure have already been earmarked for housing estates.
The all-party parliamentary group on general aviation has written to Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, about its “deep and growing concern” over the sale of the airbases. The group of 148 MPs and peers said that the airfields were “scarce national assets” that would be virtually impossible to replace because of the difficulty in obtaining permission to build new runways. Recent operations in Syria highlight that it is “difficult to accurately predict future defence needs”, the group argued. It says at least some of the military aerodromes under threat should be retained in aviation use to support jobs and the economy and as a standby for the military in future.
Grant Shapps, the Conservative MP and chairman of the all-party group, said: “At a time when the UK and our allies are facing significant global threats and uncertainties, the all-party group on general aviation is deeply concerned to see the Ministry of Defence disposing of military aerodromes across the country. Airfields are national assets which are virtually impossible to replace.” The group has urged the Ministry of Defence to work closely with the Department for Transport and Byron Davies, who was appointed as the government’s general aviation champion in February, to ensure that the majority of the airfields remain available for aviation use. Mr Shapps added: “Once these airfields are built on, they will be lost to the nation, for ever.”
Other bases due to close include RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire, which was used for training by the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and was a bomber base during the Second World War. Plans to build 4,500 homes on the site have been rejected by the local authority. RAF North Luffenham in Rutland was also used by bombers during the Second World War. It is the proposed site of a new “garden village”.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “A defence minister will be pleased to meet with the parliamentary group. Around £300 million investment has recently been announced into key RAF sites across the UK. Where airfields are no longer required we will work closely with potential buyers and the local council to make sure that the sites’ future use best meets the needs of the local economy, including providing thousands of much-needed new housing or their potential for use as civilian airfields.”
As they are mainly in the nicer parts of the UK, most of those airfields have sadly been squaddified and rendered unsuitable for aviation purposes.
As for the idiots who let Heaven-in-Devon be taken over by the Royal Marines, words fail me.
Shapps and the APPG for GA airfields group should really have done more research before releasing that list.
As for the idiots who let Heaven-in-Devon be taken over by the Royal Marines, words fail me.
Shapps and the APPG for GA airfields group should really have done more research before releasing that list.
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If the MoD needs to play this game, it would be helpful to identify those which might have a military aviation use in a crisis. Geographic dispersion should be one factor to consider. Some of those listed locations are probably now useless for Mil Avn, but some others seem to me to be too valuable to simply discard. NATO infrastructure, such as HAS sites, should surely be preserved along with operating surfaces where long runways exist? As noted, we will never be able to replicate them in the future. Forget the historical connotations ... let’s try to retain some quality alternate airfields against the uncertainty of this Century.
More short-term thinking to address the budgetary crisis, of course.
More short-term thinking to address the budgetary crisis, of course.
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I read about North Luffenham a while back
North Luffenham army base could be 'garden village' - BBC News
North Luffenham army base could be 'garden village' - BBC News
Not sure if it applies to these airfields, but didn't lots of airfields have covenants on them, meaning that if they are no longer being used by the military, they have to be returned to their original condition (like Greenham Common)?
They may even have to sell them back to the original owners at somewhat less than than market rates.
They may even have to sell them back to the original owners at somewhat less than than market rates.
Not sure if it applies to these airfields, but didn't lots of airfields have covenants on them, meaning that if they are no longer being used by the military, they have to be returned to their original condition (like Greenham Common)?
They may even have to sell them back to the original owners at somewhat less than than market rates.
They may even have to sell them back to the original owners at somewhat less than than market rates.
Of that list, is Mildenhall the only one that is still used for active military aviation? I know Wyton has the EFTS/UAS etc.
And I thought the US was reconsidering leaving Mildenhall?
And I thought the US was reconsidering leaving Mildenhall?
Dave hi, apart from the flying club there is little aviation now at Wyton, the UAS/AEF moved to Wittering some years ago. The runways have been fenced off as part of any disposal for housing with the flying club operating from a grass strip.
Last edited by brokenlink; 21st Apr 2018 at 14:35. Reason: Spelling error.
One of the very few RAF airfields on the West coast, has an Auxi squadron and is very handy for the local Reserve Army and RM when using Altcar and others for the Morcambe Bay gas field and the ship traffic into Liverpool. Rumours are the runway will be resurfaced.