A tornado flies out of RAF Marham.

Norfolk campaign saves RAF Marham

by Donna Semmens
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
7:58 AM

You’ve done it Norfolk – that was the message from politicians last night, as it emerged RAF Marham had been saved.

Defence secretary Liam Fox told the House of Commons yesterday afternoon that RAF Marham is safe –prompting a huge sigh of relief across Norfolk.

The announcement signalled a major victory for the Make it Marham campaign launched by the EDP and Norfolk County Council, and fully supported by the county’s MPs. By the time a petition calling for the base to be saved was delivered to Downing Street, nearly 37,000 people had signed the document.

Mr Fox said that the Government had “listened to communities” in reaching the decision as part of the current Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).

“The security of the nation and the requirements of the defence of our nation was paramount in our analysis and we have also considered the impact on communities,” he said.

“RAF Marham will remain as a base for Tornado GR4s,” he added.

South West Norfolk Elizabeth Truss, who has campaigned continuously for the base to be retained, described the news as “fantastic for the people of Norfolk”.

“I am absolutely delighted,” she said. “The ‘Make it Marham’ cam-paign motivated everyone across Nor-folk to sign up and support the base.

“It is fantastic for the people of Norfolk and the staff and personnel of RAF Marham to know that the base is secure for the future.

“Particular praise must go to the EDP, who committed themselves to highlight the campaign to the wider public. The support by all local media organisations meant I could present the press cuttings to the prime minister on a regular basis.

“David Cameron was so familiar with the lobbying taking place that he once commented to me ‘before you say anything Liz, I am fully aware of the Make it Marham campaign’.

“Account was also taken into the impact on local communities which paid a big part in the basing review.

“However, the campaign was not just based on a simple fondness for the RAF – it was founded on sound economic and strategic principles and I believe that resulted in the decisive decision to Make it Marham.”

Norfolk County Council leader Derrick Murphy said the victory showed what could be achieved when the county put up a united front.

“This is a stunning outcome proving what can be achieved when Norfolk and its leaders unite behind an issue with determination and speak with one voice. I cannot emphasise just how important this decision is for Norfolk, its residents and its businesses,” he added.

“RAF Marham employs around 5,000 staff which, including family members, amounts to a community of around 8,000 people and today’s announcement preserves the base in the immediate future. Their incomes combined with the purchase of goods and services from local businesses contributes in excess of £130m to the local economy.

“The economic and military rationale for keeping RAF Marham open was always very strong, but the backing of more than 36,000 residents and businesses made our case impossible to ignore.

“When the very real threat of closure became apparent late last year, Norfolk united strongly behind the Make it Marham campaign launched by the county council and the EDP. Such was the powerful weight of evidence assembled, and the undeniable strength of our case, that decision-makers in Westminster had to sit up and take notice.”

West Norfolk Borough mayor Colin Sampson said: “This is wonderful news. Just what we had hoped for during the long months of uncertainty. This is a triumph of common sense over political expediency and is just reward for the efforts of all sections of the community to ensure that RAF Marham continues in its role as the Tornado base.

“Now thousands of people can get on with normal living – even if that means dealing with the challenges of family members spending months away on tours in various parts of the world.”

North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham said: “It’s very good news indeed and it’s absolutely the 100pc right decision on military grounds and I do not believe that would have happened if it did not have the very strong local media campaign.”

Breckland Council leader William Nunn said: “This is fantastic news. I’m sure that the government has taken account of the huge support that has been demonstrated for the base both through local campaigning and by the petition to Downing Street with over 36,000 signatures.

“Breckland Council put its full weight behind the EDP campaign. The base makes a vital contribution to Breckland as forces personnel use local shops, schools and bus services, so this is good news for both residents and businesses in the district.”

George Freeman, Mid Norfolk MP, said: “This is fabulous news for Norfolk and for all those who have given so much service at Marham over the years. I’m delighted that the combined campaign led by the EDP and all the Norfolk MPs and many local bodies, not to mention the 30,000-strong petition, has triumphed. It shows what we can achieve when Norfolk speaks with one voice.”

Norwich South MP Simon Wright added: “This announcement comes as a massive relief following a long period of uncertainty about the future of the base. The case for Marham was a very strong one, and I’m very pleased that ministers have recognised this.”

Chloe Smith, Norwich North MP, also welcomed the decision: “This is excellent news for the service people, their families and the whole Norfolk economy.”

Keith Simpson, Broadland MP, hailed Norfolk’s spirit. He said: “We are used to the Scots making a lot of noise and I think they might have thought we would take things quietly, but we didn’t and I think ministers were impressed by that.”

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said “I felt all along that the case for Marham was overwhelmingly strong on both military and economic grounds but the case had to be fought to be sure that the right decision was made. The right decision has been made and it’s extremely good news for Norfolk.”

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11 comments

The two questions that should be asked of anyone supporting the building of an incinerator -- politician, councillor or member of the public. 1. Can you guarantee that the use of an incinerator does not destroy the natural resources of the planet? 2. Can you guarantee that the waste produced by an incinerator will not be a health hazard for future generations? The supporters of incineration in whatever form are always looking for the easy option. In recent years there have been countless examples of more acceptable choices and many intelligent people have shown the way. Yours sincerely pensioner South Lynn .

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LFB

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Norwich Castle is lit up in blue in the support of the RAF campaign, and seven Norfolk MPs and council leaders travels to Downing Street to deliver the petition, and rightly so. Why don't the Edp, and seven Norfolk MPs and council leaders campaign for KING'S LYNN & WEST NORFOLK? "HEALTH" YES "INCINERATION" NO !!!! Now is the time the rest of Norfolk stand up and be counted, and stop any incinerators being built, anywhere in our county of Norfolk Yours sincerely pensioner of South Lynn

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LFB

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Strange how the local press in Moray reads almost the same as EDP etc and all the politicians there are making similar quotes and grandstanding about the retention of Lossiemouth. Isn't it simply that it made sense in defence terms to retain both bases? I doubt all the hot air, north or south, made one jot of difference. Aircraft from both bases are currently over Libya - which base they come from is really immaterial. And no, Alecto, Leuchars was not handed over to the army some time ago. The talks is that the army won't be there and at Kinloss until 2015.

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wingman

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
mrsmurphy It is good Raf Marham is being kept open. Raf Marhams MOTO is “Deter”. This did not deter Derrick Murphy turning up on his bike this morning outside the gates. I suspect he want the Station Commanders autograph. He gave a speech about carrying on fighting. All very well but we are fighting spin and underhand tactics from NCC and Cory Wheelabrator. Not a level playing field.

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Knee deep In Toxic ash

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
It was with disgust that I listened to Derrick Murphy on local radio yesterday, trying by association with the Marham decision, to improve his terminally ill reputation. For an instant improvement Mr Murphy just RESIGN.

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mrsmurphy

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Let's not kid ourselves! A big part of the consideration regarding keeping Marham open was the existence of the BAe engineering centre there. This has taken over the depth maintenance from the RAF, to move it, and find the right expertise elsewhere, would have been extremely expensive. I'm sure a large number of the civilian engineers employed at Marham would not have wanted to move. If the in-depth engineering expertise had been kept within the RAF the situation would have been somewhat different.

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beverley

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My second contributuion to this thread. Not in my name and not in the name of the majority of Norfolks citizens, these signatures represent less than a quarter of us! Marham will be needed in the not so far future, with Israhell smarting at attacking Iran. Our mission in Libya has been utterly discredited and we can't see an end to this drawn out, two faced war.

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ingo wagenknecht

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
So glad that Marham remains open and also Lossiemouth who gets the Typhoons from Leuchars which was handed over to the Army some time ago. Can I ask if it is true that this is "more in the nature of a reprieve" (a quote from a friend in the RAF) as the Tornados are going out of service in five years time?

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alecto

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
65,000 voted against the incinerator and that's a bad idea. 37,000 voted for keeping Marham and that's a good idea. Reverse logic applies obviously. Come on Mr Bellingham stand up for your constituents and lets ditch the incinerator once and for all. It's not necessary, it's costly and we don't want it.

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IanofNorfolk

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
To blow your own trumpet. To act in a boastful, self-promoting manner.

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CUTHBERT. J TWILLIE

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
If 37,000 signatures can change the government's mind on a decision as big as Marham's future how come Norfolk County Council refuses to recognise the opposition of 65,000 West Norfolk inhabitants to the Mass burn incinerator fiasco in Kings Lynn? Extreme arrogance? Vested interest, or just plain, arrogant disregard for the health and welfare of the people of West Norfolk?

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Ira Rose

Tuesday, July 19, 2011