RAF Cosford boost as project may be axed
Saturday 25th September 2010, 11:23AM BST.
RAF Cosford’s hopes of staying alive as a military base today received a boost after reports that plans to move defence training to South Wales could be axed.
Labour’s award of a £14bn project for a new state-of-the-art defence training super centre at St Athan is unlikely to be given the green light by the coalition because of its enormous cost, according to a Government source.
It opens up the possibility of studies for a much lower-cost replacement – which could mean a reprieve for RAF Cosford and secure its future.
It has been estimated that the livelihoods of approximately 30,000 people in Shropshire and Staffordshire depend on the continued operation of the Defence Training Centre at RAF Cosford.
The future of the Shropshire airbase was put in doubt last year after the contract to become the principal training centre for all three armed forces – and with it, the creation of at least 2,500 jobs – was awarded to RAF St Athan.
The source said: “The logic for something on that site remains compelling: The model does not. It’s not impossible that something will go ahead – but it won’t be a gargantuan PFI.”
Decisions on the future of the UK’s defence and security needs – including RAF Cosford – are currently under review as part of the Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.
The academy has been viewed as vulnerable as the coalition is keen to axe £20bn of defence contracts structured as PFIs – and St Athan is not yet under contract.
There is also speculation some RAF bases will have to close.
Reports on where the axe will fall are due next month.
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