Council officers say that historic buildings once used by the Dambusters have fallen into poor condition under the Home Office.

The former officers’ mess hall and four hangars at RAF Scampton are all Grade II listed, meaning every effort should be made to preserve them.

The government denies that they aren’t being properly looked after, although West Lindsey District Council says the disrepair is obvious.

The mess hall would have been used by members of 617 Squadron – better known as the Dambusters – to socialise and sleep when they were based at RAF Scampton, including during the Second World War.

The officers' mess at the former RAF Scampton, near Lincoln. It is Grade II listed however there are concerns over its condition

placeholder image — The officers' mess at the former RAF Scampton, near Lincoln. It is Grade II listed however there are concerns over its condition

The building is currently boarded up, and numerous urban explorers have filmed inside since the site closed.

The hangars remain a symbol of Bomber Command’s most famous base, which remained vital in the Cold War.

Sally Grindrod-Smith, West Lindsey District Council’s director of planning, said she was “concerned about the condition of the historic buildings, particularly the officers’ mess.

She said: “The poor condition of it is poorly visible from the road. We believe there’s serious water ingress.

“We have flagged this with the Home Office. The buildings are supposed to have a heritage management plan, and there’s a risk of further deterioration if we have a bad winter.”

The site is likely to be sold to a new owner soon, but Ms Grindrod-Smith says it’s important action is taken as soon as possible.

“I would really like to see the Home Office do something soon – we have been saying that for two years,” she said.

“We expect the new owners to take the responsibility seriously.”

The Home Office disputes that the historic buildings aren’t being managed properly, although admits that temporary repairs aren’t being carried out in the mess hall while it’s on the market.

It says there is a maintenance and monitoring programme with regular inspections, and ongoing repairs are being carried out in the hangars..

The preferred bidden has been informed about their responsibilities.

The government recently rejected a bid by the council and Scampton Holdings Ltd to buy it and become acentre for aviation, heritage, and research.

It’s understood that the government is planning to sell the base to a company in the defence sector, which hasn’t been named yet as it is deemed “commercially sensitive.”

The Home Office says it is currently finalising contractual and commercial terms, and hasn’t put a date on when the site will be transferred.

Leader Councillor Jackie Brockway blamed rising global tensions for the unsuccessful bid as councillors discussed the base’s future on Monday, November 9.

She said: “Unfortunately, the world has changed during the bidding process. It’s not surprising that the government wants a big installation in this military county given Putin’s threats.

“There was nothing wrong with our bid, but the needs of the nation have changed.”

Scampton representative Coun Roger Patterson said: “There is enough site there that Scampton Holdings Ltd could easily sit alongside the other bidder.

“I’m hoping someone in government will listen and the deal isn’t quite dead.”

Coun Tom Smith, whose father was stationed at the base, called for the sale to be completed quickly, saying: “The heritage assets are degrading, and have been since the Home Office took over.”

An independent review of the Scampton Holdings bid found the proposal would have added £3billion to the local economy over the next 15 years and create 3,625 new jobs.