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RAF Halton to close
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
On the 9th December 2016 we were formally advised that RAF Halton will close by 2022. The run down is planned to occur in three phases before disposal of the site as an RAF Station. a. Phase 1 - Airfield disposal. b. Phase 2 - Relocation of School of Recruit Training and Airmans' Command School to RAF College Cranwell. c. Phase 3 - Relocation / rationalisation of Lodger Units. As the plans evolve over the coming months your Council will keep you informed of the impact for the Association. |
Chairman of ............. ?
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The Council?
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I understand that 613 Sqn has all ready ceased flying but if Halton closes, and the airfield is first in line to be disposed of, where does this leave RAFGSA and HAC and those microlights (if indeed these machines still inhabit Halton) that were there on the opposite side of the hangar from HAC's airframes?
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There we go. Every station I served at (not many admittedly) will be gone.
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Me too. Halton, where I started, was the last one left.
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Recollect, many years ago, being made aware that being a 'Brat' was a position of engineering pride and Halton had much to be proud of in the quality and high achievement of the men trained there.
Country's going to the dogs! |
After basic training at Swinderby, I did an 8 week trade course at Halton (Rapide Block was my home), followed by a 4 week aircraft type course and I landed on my first squadron on my 17th birthday.
So I'll say that the training was good and it's done me well since. |
I went to RAF Halton in September 1955 as a an Apprentice Engine Fitter in the 81st Entry and left after graduation in July 1958. What incredible training, which did me no harm in civvy street as a helicopter engineer with Bristow.
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The Ministry of Defence is to close RAF Halton within six years the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Following November’s announcement that RAF Halton would be one of 91 military sits that the MOD would be disposing of by 2040, the Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon has confirmed. Sir Michael confirmed the move in a letter to Aylesbury MP David Lidington. The decision is part of the MOD’s ‘Better Defence Estate’ Strategy, tasked with getting the most from the UK’s defence estate and contributing to the government’s housing target. Mr Lidington expressed his disappointment at the news and questioned the business logic of the decision. He commented: “I completely understand the reasons why the Ministry of Defence is seeking to rationalise its estate, concentrate its activities into fewer bases and realise the value of surplus land. I can understand too that from an RAF point of view it makes sense to co-locate the training of RAF officers and other ranks in one place. “However, I find the business case for closing RAF Halton to be unconvincing. In particular, there will be a significant cost to providing new facilities at RAF Cranwell and the RAF has never in the past found a way in which to dispose of its significant liability in respect of Halton House. “I’ve already spoken to the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon to make clear my concerns and to ask him to provide additional evidence to justify his decision. “I’ve also pressed him for a commitment that if the closure does go ahead, the Ministry of Defence will do everything that it can to help civilian employees who may face redundancy to find alternative work.” So it begins. Former RAF Bicester sold for £3.25M and Bentley Priory and its land was £12.4M. The Defence College of Technical Training cost £230M for phase 1 at former RAF Lyneham - which was just for the British Army's REME (the RN and RAF have now decided to stay put at HMS Sultan and RAF Cosford due to costs and not wanting all their eggs in one basket). I think that David Lidington MP is spot on with his 'value for money' analysis. When RAF Halton's site was valued in total a couple of years ago it was around £40M and then I hear that what is needed at RAF Cranwell could be getting on towards £500M (twice the price of what they have done at Lyneham). So where is the sense in this - I can't imagine that Halton needs more than £40M spending on it to last many more years (even at DIO's favoured contractor's outrageous prices!). I suspect that the movement of Recruit training and SNCO/WO improvement training is someone's vanity project...it is quite simply unaffordable and unnecessary. Selling off packets of land at Halton could quite easily give the extra houses that the Aylesbury Vale District Council needs (which is around 700 if I recall correctly in their latest draft plan as they are already building significant numbers in the local area to meet the Government's housing targets). Let's hope that Mr Lidington gets his financial review and we see sense prevail as we did eventually see at Lyneham - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-34243439 iRaven |
As an ex brat it is sad to see Halton close, but having visited Halton after the Apprenticeships finished, the soul had left the place.
iRaven when does the £500m price tag come from. It certainly did not cost much to move training from Swinditz to Halton. Must be some expensive tarmac for a new drill square at Cranwell for the recruits to parade on. Or are they going to build a little hill near Cranwell and move Pimple Point. |
Turboprop
- Accommodation blocks for ~600 recruits - Accommodation blocks for ~150 NCO/WOs - Classrooms for Recruit Training Sqn - Classrooms for Airmans Command Sqn - Recruits Mess - Recruits support facilities building (laundry, tailoring, barbers, etc...) - Medical facility to support an intake of 120 Recruits and the extra staff - Recruits clothing stores (RAF Halton had the longest counter ever) - Gym/sports facilities for both sqns - SLA for the staff - SFA for the staff (there is a MASSIVE shortage of quarters at Cranwell and the rest of Lincolnshire) - Parade Square because there is a graduation parade every 2 weeks unlike the 6 monthly for officers - Car parking for the extra 150 cars every 2 weeks for the Recruit's guests Then we look at the reconfiguration of the RAF Cranwell site with new access roads, electrical supplies, sewerage, water pipes, etc... Then there are architects' and planners' charges... All that will cost between £400-£500M. We experienced similar eye-watering costs at the recent new builds at Lyneham and Worthy Down - just have a search on Google if you don't believe me. Finally, if you thought Halton was falling to bits then take a look at Cranwell. That's in just a bad a state or worse! iRaven |
PS. Moving from Swinditz to Halton was easy as the reconfiguration did not involve massive new builds. Whereas Cranwell will.
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The layout and costs of Halton are the issues. Its hard to secure - split into three areas between public roads. The airfield is too small to be of much military use. The main camp probably too hilly for many military uses. the upkeep of old buildings goes on, and on...
It holds many good memories but is past its usefulness. |
I suggested to a client that if she really, really wanted to buy a few buy to lets next year, there'd possibly be worse places to consider than Sleaford..
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Cheers iRaven
With your list there are lots of potential for cost over runs. Is there space at Sleaford Technical College for all that building. Might end up with a crazy situation like Scampton with accommodation at Kirton Lindsey. Now MOD is selling the army site at Grantham, my bet is it will re-sold back to MOD at highly inflated prices so that they could use the ex-accommodation. I woud propose they call the site RAF Spitalgate in honour of it last RAF function as a recruit training camp. Another thought with another RAF facility moving to the Lincolnshire, how long before the slogan will be join the RAF and visit Lincoln, Sleaford, Boston and R and I in Skeggy. |
The layout and costs of Halton are the issues. Its hard to secure - split into three areas between public roads. As for hills, High Wycombe and Northwood are both on hills and I am sure there are others... As for the airfield at Halton, it is perfect for the sport aviation and gliding it supports - RAF Halton - Flying Info because it is way cheaper to run than a small MOB like Cranwell's airfield. iRaven |
Might be a bit difficult maintaining it as a camp with HS2 in the middle of it.
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Bigbux
HS2 runs down the valley between Butlers Cross and Wendover - which is at least 3 miles from the camp. Compulsory purchase of property has already started along the route. LJ |
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