Wages could price people out of city

Home of Red Arrows one of two to go

ECONOMY: Rising house prices and stagnating wages could see people priced out of living in York as it becomes “overrun” with tourists. City council bosses are to draw up a renewed strategy to boost jobs and growth.

DOWNING STREET has defended plans to sell off the home of the Red Arrows and close a second RAF base in Yorkshire, insisting the ongoing disposal of military bases will save taxpayers £140m over the next decade.

RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, which is home to the muchadmired aerobatics display team, will close in 2022 as part of wider moves to provide more “modern and efficient” military bases.

It was confirmed yesterday that the air force – currently celebrating its centenary – will also pull out of RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire in 2020.

Currently home to about 300 staff, the base is used to teach fast-jet pilots and is where Prince William underwent training.

It also acted as a base for Second World War pilots and aircrew taking part in long-distance bombing raids on Germany, Norway and other military targets in Europe.

Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, said he had held a number of meetings with the Defence Secretary, Ministers and senior Ministry of Defence (MoD) staff to try to prevent its closure.

“My thoughts are with the many staff and their families who have been based there over the last eight decades, and particularly the 300 service personnel and their families who work there today,” he said. “I am working closely with Hambleton District Council to make the best of the opportunities ahead”.

The two closures come on top of the 91 military sites which the MoD has previously said it plans to dispose of by 2040.

Those disposals are part of a bid to save £3bn in running costs and free up land for housing.

Tobias Ellwood, Under Secretary of State at the MoD, said in a written statement yesterday: “The MoD will close RAF Scampton in 2022, relocating the RAF Aerobatics Team and others to locations more fit for purpose.

“The disposal of the site would offer better value for money and, crucially, better military capability by relocating the units based there. The MoD can also confirm the intention to cease RAF use of RAF Linton-on-Ouse in 2020... the site will no longer be needed.”

Fast-jet training will be transferred from Linton-on-Ouse to RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales, from next year.

A new home for the Red Arrows has yet to be found, but Sir Edward Leigh MP said he was saddened by the news of Scampton’s closure. The Conservative MP for Gainsborough said on Twitter: “Not the best way to mark the #RAF100: closing the home of the RAF Red Arrows and Dambuster squadron.

“I will work with Lincolnshire County Council and West Lindsey District Council to ensure the base has a bright future.”

A Downing Street spokeswoman said of Scampton: “That closure is part of a plan to deliver modern and efficient military bases, which will save the taxpayer about £140 million by the end of the decade.

“Work is under way to find the Red Arrows a new home that is fit for purpose.”

Work is under way to find the Red Arrows a new home.

Downing Street spokeswoman.