Lincolnshire County Council, West Lindsey District Council and City of Lincoln Council call for urgent dialogue over future of former RAF Scampton
Council leaders from across the political spectrum have called on central government for an "urgent dialogue" about the future of the former RAF Scampton.
In September, plans to convert the historic airbase into an asylum centre were scrapped by the new Labour government, saying it no longer represented value for money.
That decision freed up the site for Scampton Holdings Ltd's proposed £300 million regeneration project, which aims to preserve the site's history, including the Dambusters squadron and Red Arrows, while creating thousands of highly skilled jobs for the area.
However, nearly two months later, leaders of Lincolnshire County Council, West Lindsey District Council, and City of Lincoln Council claim there has been no indication of a timeline for the disposal and sale of the site, which is still owned by the Home Office.
Together, they have collectively written to Minister Dame Angela Eagle, highlighting their concerns over the prolonged uncertainty and the impact this is having on local planning and community interests.
Councillor Trevor Young (Liberal Democrat), leader of WLDC, said: "We are deeply concerned about the length of time it is taking to clarify the timelines and processes associated with the decommissioning and disposal of RAF Scampton.
"This delay not only affects our planning and development strategies but also raises serious concerns about the condition of the site and the preservation of its heritage assets.”
“It’s essential that we meet with government to obtain an update on the current situation with Scampton," added Councillor Naomi Tweddle (Labour), leader of City of Lincoln Council.
"Its future impacts all of our communities and the current lack of clarity on the way forward for the site needs to be addressed.”
Councillor Martin Hill (Conservative), leader of Lincolnshire County Council, also commented: “Even though the Home Office has confirmed they do not plan to use the former RAF Scampton for asylum accommodation, there’s still a great deal of uncertainty about the future of the site until there is a clear timeline about the next steps.”
Newly-elected Labour MP for Lincoln, Hamish Falconer, outlined preserving the former airbase's heritage as one of his main goals during his election campaign, and has worked with Scampton Holdings Ltd to keep its regeneration project alive.
He stated: “The scrapping of the Conservative’s plans for RAF Scampton by the Labour government were a turning point for Lincoln. I am incredibly proud of our community's campaign, and I remain committed to ensuring that the £300 million redevelopment deal occurs as swiftly and effectively as possible.
"This project has the potential to transform our community and create lasting opportunities for local residents. I urge all stakeholders to come together to navigate the complexities ahead and turn our vision for Scampton into a reality."
The Home Office has been approached for comment.