Reaction after plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton are dropped
It's now hoped a 300 million pound regeneration project can take place
Campaigners are celebrating this morning after the Home Office announced RAF Scamptonwill not be used to house asylum seekers.
There's been an ongoing dispute between councils and ministers which made it all the way to the High Court
Now, it's been confirmed migrants won't arrive at the former base with the Government saying it doesn't represent value for money.
West Lindsey District council told us: "A total of £60 million has already been spent on the site."
"Work to close the site will begin immediately with the sale happening in line with the process for disposing of Crown land."
Today we can finally put to bed an incredibly difficult period for our community
In a statement Council leader Trevor Young said:
“We have always been clear that the best use for this historic, key strategic asset was to unlock the potential to drive economic growth and prosperity in our place, for Lincolnshire and beyond.
“Today we can finally put to bed an incredibly difficult period for our community and focus time, energy and resource on this once in a generation opportunity to honour the heritage of this site through regeneration and the delivery of investment in jobs and skills.”
"The Council remain committed to working with Scampton Holdings Limited to realise the potential of the site."
“The Council now look forward to finalising plans with SHL which have necessarily had to pause whilst the issues played out. We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support and commitment from SHL, and the patience they have shown us, whilst working through the issues. We hope that our collaboration can now accelerate at pace.”
Peter Hewitt, Chairman of Scampton Holdings Limited said: “We must now put this period behind us, roll up our sleeves and work together to unlock the true potential of Scampton for generations to come.
We recognise this period has been particularly tough for our community very local to Scampton
“We look forward to concluding our contract with West Lindsey District Council and moving into a period where we can work both with investors and the local community to achieve something very special in the defence, air and space sector in this unique corner of Lincolnshire.”
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities for the Council said:
“Work will now progress at pace to conclude the necessary contracting arranging and secure formal, long term access to the site. In the meantime, it will be important to work with the Home Office to ensure any works already completed on site can be decommissioned and removed sensitively so as to protect the heritage of the site’.
The Council pressed long and hard for better engagement from the Home Office with our communities throughout this process.
“We recognise this period has been particularly tough for our community very local to Scampton."
"We are fortunate to have had the support and backing of local people who grasped from day one the huge potential in the future of this site and we want to build on our learning as we move forwards together."
"The principle of sharing information and shaping future plans together will be at the heart of our work"
“To this end, we are pleased to announce that working with Scampton Parish Council, a formal taskforce will be led by the Council, engaging all key stakeholders as the masterplan for the site now moves forward."
"Details of this approach will be developed together, but the principle of sharing information and shaping future plans together will be at the heart of our work.”
They've got a good result and they can move forward
Sir Edward Leigh is MP for Gainsborough and his constituency covers the Scampton site.
He told us: "Obviously I'm delighted - I've been warning for two years now in countless speeches and questions in Parliament saying this was not value for money."
At least they've got a good result and they can move forward
"We've won victory and we've got to get this site released as quickly as possible so we can get this wonderful regeneration deal up and running."
He spoke about the impact on local people.
"It's been upsetting for them - it's been a 2 year battle."
"I suspect this would always happen - it was not going to be value for money."
"At least they've got a good result and they can move forward."
"It'll be a great relief to people living on the camp - a great relief."