A Tornado GR4 taking off at RAF Marham. PICTURE: Ian Burt.
Speculation that RAF Marham could stay open
Donna-Louise Bishop, Reporter
Friday, January 28, 2011
7:26 AM
There is speculation this morning that RAF Marham may be kept open.
A group of campaigners met armed forces minister Nick Harvey at Kinloss, in Scotland, yesterday and now believe RAF Marham has been spared the axe.
Although defence minister Nick Herbert told a debate in the Commons that a decision would be made “before the summer recess”, Calum Macpherson, spokesman for the Moray task force, said: “We understand RAF Marham is now saved. It is now between Leuchars and Lossiemouth. We were told it would be too expensive to relocate Marham.”
Mr Harvey however denied that a decision had been made about Marham and said: “I think [the task force] are overstating what I said. I simply made the point that the cost of relocating the RAF out of Marham would be very high and first and foremost the purpose of this whole exercise is to try to achieve financial savings.”
He added: “I have not said Marham is safe but I have candidly shared the fact that the costs of getting out of Marham are high and therefore not an attractive way of making short-term savings.”
The fight to save Marham united politicians, businesses and communities across Norfolk.
In November last year, a Make it Marham delegation travelled to 10 Downing Street to deliver a petition with nearly 37,000 signatures.
Latest News
Other Politics Articles
- Group Lotus boss Dany Bahar suspended
- New properties in Breckland will be charged for their wheelie bins
- Breckland councillors abolish committee that investigated complaints against councillors
- Norfolk’s expertise makes it the ‘ideal’ location for a research and development centre
- Robin Goreham appointed the new rock ‘n’ roll chairman of Breckland Council
- MP Norman Lamb’s warning over Norfolk County Council foster care relationship
- Norfolk bus network not among first wave of Local Sustainable Transport Fund grants
- Eyesore Norwich pub looks set for demolition
- Labour shadow minister Karen Buck launches safe haven plan at Hellesdon High School in Norwich
- Yaxham residents trigger byelection to fill parish council vacancy
- Campaigners celebrate after application for 3G phone mast in Thorpe St Andrew is turned down
- North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb lays out government’s latest Post Office shake up
- Plans for Norwich cycle scheme work in Gurney Road, Sprowston Road and Drayton Road are approved
- £90m boost for Norwich Research Park
- Plan to give Cromer more say in future of its North Lodge Park
Most Read News Stories See all
GALLERY: Celtic fans in Norwich in force for Adam Drury testimonial
Supporters of Scottish champions Celtic are in Norwich ahead of the Adam Drury testimonial game tonight.
- Ambulance called to Norwich pub after Celtic supporter suffers minor head injury
- Family of footballer fighting for his life after crash near Norwich ‘touched and overwhelmed’ by messages of support
- Norwich-born businessman Matthew Newbury to appear on tonight’s Secret Millionaire programme
- Entries open for fourth Breckland photography competition
- UPDATE & PICTURE GALLERY: Costessey blaze was “accidental”
Travel News
3 comments
I have to disagree that RAF Marham is safe. The recent Security and Defence Review culled military assets that many ex heads of the forces have challenged on the grounds of both cost savings and capability. RAF Marham may be the logical choice to keep the RAF's Tornado's but where politics are concerned nothing is sacrosanct. Logically RAF Marham is the better choice both financially and geographically. However, minority governments are often swayed in their decision making by other concerns, in this case appeasing the SNP! I will wait with baited breath!
Report this comment
Douglas McCoy
Friday, January 28, 2011
Can I please make it clear that there is more than one John Norton! I am the one who is the Director of Regeneration at King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council and not my nameaske above who is a frequent contributor! We cannot afford to be complacent until a final decision is formally announced.
Report this comment
John Norton
Friday, January 28, 2011
Of course Marham is safe, its a done deal. Long past time for Elisabeth Truss to tackle some serious issues as this one is finished.
Report this comment
John L Norton
Friday, January 28, 2011