County Council backs RAF Boulmer

Posted by The Journal on Nov 6, 09 08:59 AM in News

A North air base which could lose a lifesaving service has received the backing of a council.

RAF Boulmer, near Alnwick, in Northumberland, is home to search and rescue Sea King helicopters often used to help civilians in emergencies.

But the future of the craft has been in doubt due to plans to harmonise the nation's search and rescue cover, which could see the base's helicopters relocated and an agency like the coastguard made responsible for coming to people's aid.

The Ministry of Defence recently said it planned to scrap the base's night time cover due to shortage of crews although it this week went back on that proposal. Prior to that U-turn, a motion was put to Northumberland County Council asking it to show its support for the base and the service it plays.

At a full meeting of the council at Morpeth's County Hall, members voted in support of the paper. They were also assured that the authority will lobby the Government to make sure services at Boulmer are not reduced. Coun Glen Sanderson, who had tabled the motion, described the Government's change of heart this week as ambiguous.

He said there has not been a clear statement about the future of the search and rescue service.

Coun Sanderson called on the council to register its concerns and to call for service and safety levels to be retained.

He said: "We have many things to be proud of about living in Northumberland. One of the things we can be proud of is RAF Boulmer."

Coun Gordon Castle added: "We do have to make sure that the MoD is aware of our concern, that they do not degrade the service any more than they have."

The council agreed to recognise in its motion the efforts of Berwick Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith to guarantee continued presence of helicopters at the base. A council scrutiny committee is to monitor developments at Boulmer.

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