Future of RAF Base Remains Uncertain

MP James Gray has expressed concerns over the future of RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, claiming there is a shortage of money available from the Ministry of Defence.
The Lyneham airbase is due to close in 2012, and the fleet of Hercules helicopters moved to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, but it is not certain what will become of the base when the aircrafts are removed.
Mr Gray has been campaigning for all military helicopters to be housed at the base under Project Belvedere, but is worried that not enough money will be put aside for the project.
Mr Gray said: “If Project Belvedere goes ahead, Lyneham is the most likely place. There are three other options but Lyneham fits more of the criteria.
“Having said that, in all the discussions I have had with RAF people they have been nervous about the great shortage of money in the Ministry of Defence.
“The project would cost a lot of money because the infrastructure of the buildings at Lyneham would have to be upgraded considerably.
“The people in the RAF are concerned that if the government decide it is a good idea they might not have enough money to follow through.”
Mr Gray said if the base was to shut permanently it would be catastrophic for the county.
“One of my concerns is that Project Belvedere will be dropped in 2012 and the place would be abandonned for many years,” he said.
“There are an awful lot of runways and buildings there, which would be left vacant. The married quarters for example would be vacant and at risk of being vandalised and left to decline.
“This would have a negative impact not only on Lyneham itself, but on the surrounding area.”
Other options for the site include selling it for housing or an industrial estate or returning it to farmland.
“I am concerned about what will happen if the Hercules fleet is withdrawn,” Mr Gray said.
“Some options are the development of a massive new town – a sort of expansion of Swindon – or a prison community.
“There was talk at one stage of Virgin Air using the space as a refuelling depot, but I think that has been dropped.”
Rumours surrounding the future of the base also included it being used as a commercial airport rather than a third runway being built at Heathrow.
Mr Gray said: “There were no facts behind this rumour and it has now been decided that Heathrow will be expanded.
“It was decided long ago through many surveys that Lyneham could not feasibly be used as a commercial airport. There is no worry of that.”
The rehousing of the Hercules fleet could be delayed if the replacement A400M aircrafts are not made available on time.
The aircraft was supposed to enter service this year, but the 25 planes ordered are now unlikely to be ready before 2012.
Mr Gray said: “The government might delay the rebasing because the A400M replacing the older aircrafts will not be ready on time.
“What effect this will have on the rebasing decision we do not really know.”
A decision on the future of the base is expected to be made in the summer.
A spokesperson for RAF Lyneham said: “No decision has been made regarding the future of the base.
“Several options are currently being considered but it will be several months before anything is decided.”