MP’s column: Sad at closure of RAF Scampton, happy Red Arrows will stay in Lincolnshire

I am very saddened to hear it confirmed that RAF Scampton is to shut. I have spent many years singing the virtues of this site and its long history to defence ministers who have come and gone. We have seen it shut once before only for it to be reopened when the MOD realised it was the best home for the Red Arrows.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th May 2020, 11:55 BST
Sir Edward LeighSir Edward Leigh
Sir Edward Leigh

We in Lincolnshire are proud of our Royal Air Force history and the many bases which have dotted our county – “Bomber County”. Sad though I am to see Scampton shut – and I still think it is a bad decision – I am at least relieved to hear that the Red Arrows will stay in Lincolnshire by moving to RAF Waddington. I have been campaigning hard with other Lincolnshire MPs to at least keep the Red Arrows in the county and flying above Scampton, and this they will do.

In the past, offloading MOD properties was done haphazardly with little input from locals. The problems this created are obvious around Lincolnshire. Happily, lessons have been learned and officials from West Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, and others are working together with the MOD to make sure we make the best out of RAF Scampton’s location. We have also secured the release of the Land Quality Assessment for Scampton so that we have an accurate account of the current state of the land.

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I can’t pretend I’m not disappointed, but I’m glad the Red Arrows are staying in Lincolnshire, and I know we will all work hard to preserve the history of RAF Scampton and to make sure the site is put to good use.

Flooding has been another issue about which I have been very vocal with Environment Agency officials. It’s plain to me that decisions on mitigating the risk of flooding should be taken locally, and not dictated to by mandarins in Whitehall who have little understanding of the situation on the ground.

Luckily, progress is being made. Meetings with the Environment Agency have made clear the risk to the area downstream of Scotter, and the EA has committed to investigating ways of enabling flood water to flow into the Trent when the River Eau becomes tide-locked. They will be consulting with the Internal Drainage Board and West Lindsey District Council to see whether the dredging that I’ve called for will be useful and look at other possible remedies as well.

Beyond all this, it is important that we get our local businesses reopened as soon as possible, so long as social distancing can be maintained. I will continue to pressure the Government to enable a quick return to business whenever and wherever this is possible.

Sir Edward Leigh MP

Gainsborough Constituency

Related topics:Red ArrowsLincolnshireEnvironment AgencyWest Lindsey District Council