Asylum seeker’s accommodation

[Aeronut]

Coltishall - Immigrant Centre

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/6331983.stm

The former RAF base at Coltishall in Norfolk is to be taken over by the Home Office to become an immigration detention and removal centre.

[airborne_artist]

The constituency that includes Coltishall is a safe Tory seat. They'd hardly put an immigration centre in a marginal Labour seat, would they?

[Had Enough 77]

What a complete and utter slap in the face, i spent an absolute great 7 months holding on the OCU there. It is a lovely station. I think that it is an insult to the heritage of a great place and area.

[dakkg651]

What a terrible fate for a station that was in the forefront of repelling the invader in 1940. Now it is going to host the new invaders. This country has passed the point of no return methinks

[AonP]

Recent pics of Colt

Below is a link to the EDP, what a shame to see the place rotting.

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/...A42%3A07%3A300

[RICKIT]

Colt Detention Centre

I had the best 3 years of my career at Colt. I was posted to another unit in Norfolk 2 years ago but I've still not fully recovered. Should have got referred to DMHU for therapy...

[Lyneham Lad]

BBC Report Date???

Am I missing something here? The link in the first post leads to a BBC report dated 5th Feb 2007

[roony]

That's because the first post was written on 5th Feb 07.

[Wensleydale]

How much will you wager that the accommodation will be radically improved at great expense because it is deemed to be below standard for the immigrants?

[green granite]

How much will you wager that the accommodation will be radically improved at great expense because it is deemed to be below standard for the immigrants?

That's a forgone conclusion, after all we can't have the poor things living in anything but luxury can we, might infringe their human rights.

[Jamma]

Having been fortunate to have spent many years at Colt finally leaving in 1996, it was with great sadness that I saw it's closure and uncertain future. I did however, write to the Defence Estates Agency to see if I could have a final look around the station in March of this year and was fortunate to have that wish granted and see the old place on a cold bright day, prior to it's slide into disrepair. Then today I received my order of "RAF Coltishall Fighter Station, A Station History" by Mick Jennings, just browsing this book is enough for me to recommend it highly, it will be a compelling read especially for anyone who has been lucky enough to be connected in any way with the place. I can only hope that someone with money and imagination can save Coltishall from the bunch of indecisive muppets that are currently in charge.

[Lyneham Lad]

"That's because the first post was written on 5th Feb 07."

With initials LL I should look before I leap!

LL

[aw ditor]

Presumably replacing the current (ex RAF) Oakington facility which is about to get 12000 houses built on it, now the bombs have been cleared!

[AonP]

Accommodation too poor for immigrants!!

Shock horror - the accom at Coltishall has been deemed too poor for immigrants. What a shame this wasn't highlighted when hundreds of Airmen were living in the same conditions!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle2963348.ece

[Top Right]

AonP,

Maybe someone will spot this anomaly and link it to the "troops returning to inadequate accommodation" trail currently in the media as part of the Lords Guthrie, Craig and Boyce debate?

Someone from California (!!) has already replied as much to the Times article - maybe he's a reader here?

[JagRigger]

That's even more depressing when you realise the immigration accomodation was going to be in the Sgts Mess............

[roony]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7128181.stm

So Coltishall is now planned to be a "cat C" prison after all.

[dwhcomputers]

Have the Barrack Blocks been modified to single man rooms with their own en suites

[JagRigger]

They hadn't when the military left.........

[dwhcomputers]

So they were they old 16 man rooms then? No doubt the prisoners will not move in until they have all mod cons fitted