SAVE RAF COTTESMORE

chrisb1357 · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:25

Hi all,

As you might have heard on the news etc that the UK MOD are making cut backs again and are thinking of closing some RAF bases with one being RAF Cottesmore causing lost of many jobs it's been reported if it closes, and the lost of a good community for the area. This also hits and reduces the UK defence capability as well.

If you are a British citizen or resident and are over 18 could i ask people to help support the petition that a group has setup to try and save RAF Cottesmore by signing it.

Petition Link - http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SAVECOTTESMORE/

At the present time the group allready has over 1,700 signatures and backing from some top compaines & people in the area

As taken from the 10 Downing Steeet petition the following is said "The closure of RAF Cottesmore is deplorable. This will not only devastate a local community, but marks the very likely demise of the Harrier aircraft. These actions are short-sighted and will severely lessen our defence capability. Without strong defences to counter threats at the present time or in the future, the security of our nation is compromised"

Please pass this onto all your friends to support this

Many Thanks

Sinque · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:26

Signing that won't magic up the money it costs to run it.

Stringy · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:31

I think we should close it, harrier mates are all up themselves anyway.

MrMoonX · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:35

arnt they gonna turn the site into a prison??

chrisb1357 · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:39

Here is a news item that was printed in Dec

http://www.rutland-times.co.uk/news/Countys-RAF-base-will-close.5919671.jp

Stringy · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:40

MrMoonX said:
arnt they gonna turn the site into a prison??

Would be a good cost effective use of the base if they did!

There really is no need to maintain a capability such as our ageing STOVL platform when you look at the theatres we are operating in and with our current financial issues in the armed forces. This is far from a short sighted measure - the plan was always to get rid of them and we as a nation simply cannot afford anymore to be a jack of all trades and a master of none militarily. We need to downsize our specialist and expensive capabilities and become more of a niche provider who expect to always work as part of a coalition.

tom_e · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:43

Spent a few good weekends there in my youth, but as others have said signing a petition is not going to magic money from anywhere

Cosimo · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:48

I can’t see how signing this petition will prevent any defence cuts. Is there now any need to maintain this Harrier readiness base?

Destination · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:53

Why do we wish to save this base again?
I haven't really seen any reasons listed to save it except that it will affect local economy, which happens to be hundreds upon hundreds of miles from where I am.

Mr^B · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:56

What base should be closed instead?

scorza · 19 Jan 2010 at 19:59

We have to pay for the bankers' bonuses somehow.

BigglesPiP · 19 Jan 2010 at 20:00

My 1st camp was at Cottesmore.

Not signing that though, similar reasons people have pointed out. If you make one asking for more money for the armed forces, in order to improve conditions for servicemen and women, I'll sign that.

tom_e · 19 Jan 2010 at 20:03

BigglesPiP said:
My 1st camp was at Cottesmore.

Not signing that though, similar reasons people have pointed out. If you make one asking for more money for the armed forces, in order to improve conditions for servicemen and women, I'll sign that.

I done my JNCO course there

Begbie · 19 Jan 2010 at 20:15

Doesn't matter how many people sign the petition, it will close down if the MOD want to save money not on a matter of a petition. Which is a shame as there is also rumors of either Lossie or Kinloss closing down as well. Which I quite fancy as a first post.

Supposedly it won't be for a good 5-6 years yet?

They are skimping though, even cancelled the long march this year. (which I was meant to be going to

)

tom_e · 19 Jan 2010 at 20:30

Begbie said:
Doesn't matter how many people sign the petition, it will close down if the MOD want to save money not on a matter of a petition. Which is a shame as there is also rumors of either Lossie or Kinloss closing down as well. Which I quite fancy as a first post.

Supposedly it won't be for a good 5-6 years yet?

They are skimping though, even cancelled the long march this year. (which I was meant to be going to )

Nijmegen?

Flukester · 19 Jan 2010 at 20:31

Demise of the Harrier ?, should have happened long ago, it should be in a museum tbh

NathanE · 19 Jan 2010 at 20:32

I'd rather our boys in Afghanistan had some new chinooks and vehicles.

Which is why a small number of RAF bases are being closed across the country, such as this one.

Won't be signing.

Vulcan · 19 Jan 2010 at 20:58

As NathanE says...

In early December 2009, it was announced the base would close due to funding cut-backs, in part to help pay for additional helicopters for British operations in Afghanistan.

The first Harriers are planned to leave the base in April 2010 with the base closing in 2013.

Having helicopters in Afganistan is more important than ~200 jobs.

The Harriers are simply moving to another base.

Compound · 19 Jan 2010 at 21:02

Sadly those Chinooks that were recently ordered will not arrive in time to help our boys in Afghanistan.

Anyway, despite being old the Harrier is an excellent close air support aircraft for a theature such as that but with RAF Whittering just down the road from Cott it seems obvious that one base must close to save money.

On a side note, did you also know that RAF Wittering is located on what is essentially free land donated by some Earl or Lord so costs the RAF/MOD far less to run than what Cottesmore does.

GreatAuk · 19 Jan 2010 at 21:09

Sinque said:
Signing that won't magic up the money it costs to run it.

This.

Also, we need more taxes to finance MoD but somehow doubt that's going to happen. Cutbacks are in fashion atm.