Raf Stations

I saw on the news yesterday that English Heritage is listing all wartime stations and buildings. Is this true, and will it save Coltishall from the bulldozer?

 

Lets hope so.

I live only 20 mins away from Coltishall and it would be a shame to see the last operational BoB airfield flattened forever.

 

I really really hope so, but with the right regulations and bits of paper its amazing what can be taken down. Locally the second oldest house in a village was knocked down. From 1640's it had survived and it didn't even have electric upstairs nor any gas. It had to be re-roofed 10 or so years ago due to storm damage in big gales. It had to be done properly, with old cut stone and made like it always was. Trouble is 400 plus years ageing on the walls, the new roof was too heavy and underminded the original foundations. Too expensive to underpin properly and would have taken years to do. Result..? You guess...
With quickly built concrete RAF buildings made of reinforcing , what happens when all that absorbs moisture, rusts and causes unsafe walls etc? I wonder who would be prepared to pay the bills to restore and rebuild? In some ways there are too many charities in the UK in this game , so there is not enough money to go around, its very sad. I live near Elvington and its always a wonder to me how these places have survived.
Regards
MG

 

Two words on why WW2-era buildings come down:

Lead.

Asbestos.

Sometimes mercury as well.

They have a similar problem with decommissioned US Navy warships...the modern ones all have asbestos and lead, so they can't scrap them. That's why we sell them to other navies. Apparently they're safe to use to fight a war or sail the seven seas, but we don't dare take them apart. images/smilies/default/wacko.gif

 

(Colonel Gubbins @ Dec 20 2005, 03:54 AM) [post=43383]I live near Elvington and its always a wonder to me how these places have survived.
Regards
MG
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Kent or York?

 

There is an Elvington Aerodrome in Kent..?
I didn't know.
MG

 

(Colonel Gubbins @ Dec 22 2005, 12:05 AM) [post=43476]There is an Elvington Aerodrome in Kent..?
I didn't know.
MG
[/b]

I meant the town/village. You were speaking of the very old buildings from the 1600's.

 

hehe right! Yorkshire!
MG

 

I'm currently studying Countryside Management at Uni, and you would be suprised at what can be done within the regulations.
Ancient hedgerows can be ripped up if they are not part of the ancient field systems (pre-19th century by law) but they are still taken up.
Archeaology is ploughed up on listed sites because agriculture is not listed on site specifics under the law. The same goes for protected SSSI's and ESA's, as well as historically important landscapes. And the Rural White Paper 1995 from MAFF (now DEFRA) states the gov's desire to double the woodland cover in this coutnry to 15% land coverage. This was last seen in 1068 and has no thought for archeaology or current population/agricultural levels.
I think we should set up an action group so we can chain ourselves to all old airfields to protect them from the bulldozer. First stop RAF Cranage/Byley in Cheshire.
Here endeth the lesson.


images/smilies/default/mad.gif

 

I visited Elvington recently. A lot of it is nissen huts and the concrete control tower etc. It was still until recently kept in upkeep by the RAF. The charity that runs it seem to have any degradation in check - thankfully. Nice to see it kept in good condition. During the war they were built to provide an airbase/ airfield, I don't think the authorities gave any thought as to what would happen after hostilities finished. They were built to achieve an immediate purpose. Looking at the state of some airfields only confirms this, the way they have left them to the elements. No thoughts as to the future usage.

 

To Pte 1643: As the sole BoB airfield it should be preserved for that if for nothing else. I visited Hawkinge in Kent. You would think that with it's role in the battle they would have put a preservation order on it. No instead they put a housing development on it. Then they find out that the houses are on top of asbestos that was used to fill in the holes which had been blown off the buildings by bombing and strafing of the airfield. Pardon me if I am not one bit in the least sympathetic.

Are they still going to close Coltishall, I last remember hearing that it was more than probable they would due to revised defence strategy/ end Cold War surplus to propossed future defence planning etc. Saying that Coltishall might be termed a bit out in the sticks even though it is relatively close to Norwich. Do you reckon they could turn it into a museum - a focal point it being the last complete BoB station. Your thoughts.

 

lancesergeant: to answer your question, if Coltishall is listed then it will be saved. It merely depends on the type and extent of the listing. Hopefully it will cover the entire aerodrome, and not just the buildings and a bit of land around them. If this is the case, it could then go one of two ways: a 'shopping/office' developement, whilst maintaining the integrity of the buildings and site, or a museum. I hope for the latter, whilst remaining a working airfield, but the former woud not be so bad if it saved the 'drome.

 

(lancesergeant @ Jan 22 2006, 03:02 PM) [post=44680]Are they still going to close Coltishall, I last remember hearing that it was more than probable they would due to revised defence strategy/ end Cold War surplus to propossed future defence planning etc. Saying that Coltishall might be termed a bit out in the sticks even though it is relatively close to Norwich. Do you reckon they could turn it into a museum - a focal point it being the last complete BoB station. Your thoughts.
[/b]

The local "word" at the moment (according to the Eastern Daily Press) is that... Yes, the base is to be Closed Fully by DEC 2006.
With the remaining current Jaguar Squadrons, 6 & 41(F), leaving sometime before this deadline.
The 2 other Sqns, 54(F) and 16 having been disbanded in March 2005.

The reason given is that the ageing Jaguar aircraft currently based there cannot go on for much longer.
The were plans to "Re-House" them at Bentwaters, but this has now been dropped.
It will probably mean the end of the Jaguar totally.

There was hope that the base would be chosen to house the new Typhoon (Eurofighter), but it's now been established that they will NOT be based in Norfolk.

Personally I can't see the site being preserved, it's probably worth too much in terms of development.

Last summer I took my Son down to RAF Museum Hendon, only to find it's NOT RAF Hendon anymore, just a museum now. The last time I visited the site was actually part of RAF Hendon.


Sad times indeed.

 

Update:

Yesterday (29th March 2006) the "First wave" of the last 2 Jaguar Sqdns left RAF Coltishall for ever.

The 12 aircraft departed then headed out over the North Sea, 9 of which returned to the base in "diamond 9" formation, for a fly past of the base and the city of Norwich.

The 12 aircraft then flew up to their new "Temporary" base at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The Jaguar sqdns will be stationed at Coningsby for approx 1 year, when they will be replaced by the new Typhoon, starting early next year.

The remaining Jaguars will leave Coltishall on Saturday (1st April 2006), never to return.

Jaguars have been stationed at Coltishall since 1974 (replacing the Phantoms that were there at the time), with No's 6 and 54(f) sqdns.

Incredibly the ONLY time RAF Jaguars have been used in anger all this time have been during both the Gulf and Iraq Wars.

The last aircraft to depart on Saturday will mark the end of 66 years of operational flying from the base.

Sad times...

http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED29%20Mar%202006%2018:22:38:570&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search

 

My young brother is making his way down tocolt to take part inthe closing down ceremony. Sad times indeed for the passing of a great aircraft. the question is, what will replace it?

 

Hello beloved.
as i understand it Coltishall is being decomissioned. Nothing will replace the jag's because the station is closing. I bet the ghosts of Bader and Catseye are shaking their heads at that.
Were all of your bro's in the RAF?

 

If Coltishall is listed, it will at least be partly saved. i.e some of the buildings. RAF Martlesham closed several years ago, (Bader and Tuck both flew from there for a time during ww2.) though no longer recognisable as a RAF Station, the barrack blocks are listed and still in good condition, sadly there is only one Hanger left now (situated near the usaf and RAF memorials). There are several of the original workshop buildings still in existence and use. The control tower is now a museum saved and run by volunteers. Hopefully Coltishall will not disappear!!

 

If any of you flyboy fans would like a photo or 2, I only live 10 minutes away form Martlesham. Be glad to oblige.

 

Sorry me again, might like to check out the control tower museum website.
www.mhas.org.uk