New move to try and stop asylum seekers being housed at the former RAF Scampton base
A strategy for central Lincolnshire has been formally adopted
There's a new move to try and stop the former RAF Scampton base being used to house asylum seekers.
A strategy for central Lincolnshire has been formally adopted which attempts to safeguard the future of the site.
Central Lincolnshire covers the three council areas of City of Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey, with a strategic planning partnership made up of the two district, city and Lincolnshire County Council.
The local plan outlines development measures in the county.
It's hoped now this has been approved by an independent inspector -it'll add weight to efforts to stop the base being used to house migrants.
West Lindsey District Council wrote to the Government warning of possible legal action saying the site isn't suitable and puts a £300 million pound regeneration programme at risk.
The home office has until the end of tomorrow to issue a response.
The council's asked for no steps to be taken towards housing asylum seekers until at least that happens.
The Council’s Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities, Sally Grindrod-Smith, said:
“Despite the Council’s ongoing engagement with the Home Office, the only correspondence received since the issue of the pre-action protocol letter has been to state that they could not make a substantive response by the deadline of 6th April and would seek to reply by 14th April.
“In light of this, the Council renewed its request that the Home Office take no steps towards the use of RAF Scampton until a substantive response to the Council’s pre-action protocol letter has been provided.”
Sally added:
“Adopting a site-specific policy for RAF Scampton, based on sound evidence and shaped by our community, has been an aspiration of the Council since the closure of the base was announced. Today is a landmark moment as any future proposals for the site will be required to follow due process and conform with this policy.
“This work demonstrates that the Council takes a considered, planned and strategic approach to planning for the long-term development and regeneration needs of our communities. It is clear the Home Office’s recent announcement regarding RAF Scampton has not considered the key material planning matters and has not paid due attention to statutory processes.”