Menu
08/05/2008
MoD 'Snub' Over RAF Aldergrove Jobs
A leading Northern Ireland politician has tackled the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) decision to pull all RAF personnel from the Province's only such base.
South Antrim MP William McCrea said at Westminster that the decision had been taken in a "cavalier fashion".
The DUP representative said the move would leave many people out of work.
However, the Ministry of Defence Minister said the decision to relocate personnel from RAF Aldergrove will 'only' cost 100 jobs as a result of the move - a clear snub to the MP's concerns.
Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth, made the comment during a Westminster debate on the decision to move staff to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire and away from RAF Aldergrove where there have been such personnel for 90 years, since the RAF was first set up in 1918.
Mr Ainsworth denied there had been any abuse of procedure in making the announcement.
He also said that the MoD had considered consolidating RAF forces at Aldegrove - but that the cost of moving existing training facilities at Benson was prohibitive.
Last month, the Government announced that 230 Squadron would be moved out of Northern Ireland.
About 600 of the 700 RAF personnel on the Aldergrove base will be moved to England, along with their families.
The MoD then intends to relocate 38 Engineer Regiment from Massereene Barracks in Antrim to RAF Aldergrove. It will then be closed.
The relocations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
(BMcC)
South Antrim MP William McCrea said at Westminster that the decision had been taken in a "cavalier fashion".
The DUP representative said the move would leave many people out of work.
However, the Ministry of Defence Minister said the decision to relocate personnel from RAF Aldergrove will 'only' cost 100 jobs as a result of the move - a clear snub to the MP's concerns.
Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth, made the comment during a Westminster debate on the decision to move staff to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire and away from RAF Aldergrove where there have been such personnel for 90 years, since the RAF was first set up in 1918.
Mr Ainsworth denied there had been any abuse of procedure in making the announcement.
He also said that the MoD had considered consolidating RAF forces at Aldegrove - but that the cost of moving existing training facilities at Benson was prohibitive.
Last month, the Government announced that 230 Squadron would be moved out of Northern Ireland.
About 600 of the 700 RAF personnel on the Aldergrove base will be moved to England, along with their families.
The MoD then intends to relocate 38 Engineer Regiment from Massereene Barracks in Antrim to RAF Aldergrove. It will then be closed.
The relocations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
(BMcC)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
19 September 2008
RAF Aldergrove Issue Their 'Stamp Of Approval'
It's 'chocks away' this week as Royal Mail joins forces with the 'youngest' of the armed forces to celebrate the history of Royal Air Force uniforms with six new stamps. On sale now, the RAF Uniforms stamp issue is the second in Royal mail's Military Uniforms series, which examines the history of the uniforms of the UK's armed services.
RAF Aldergrove Issue Their 'Stamp Of Approval'
It's 'chocks away' this week as Royal Mail joins forces with the 'youngest' of the armed forces to celebrate the history of Royal Air Force uniforms with six new stamps. On sale now, the RAF Uniforms stamp issue is the second in Royal mail's Military Uniforms series, which examines the history of the uniforms of the UK's armed services.
05 August 2008
Arrests Follow RAF Aldergrove 'Hot Pursuit'
There were amazing scenes in Co Antrim today during what has been described as "a breach of security" at RAF Aldergrove.
Arrests Follow RAF Aldergrove 'Hot Pursuit'
There were amazing scenes in Co Antrim today during what has been described as "a breach of security" at RAF Aldergrove.
24 April 2008
Relocation! Relocation! For RAF Aldergrove
Ninety years after they first arrived, RAF personnel are to be relocated away from Northern Ireland - leaving behind just the Army Air Corps. Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth said that 230 troops based at RAF Aldergrove will be moved to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
Relocation! Relocation! For RAF Aldergrove
Ninety years after they first arrived, RAF personnel are to be relocated away from Northern Ireland - leaving behind just the Army Air Corps. Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth said that 230 troops based at RAF Aldergrove will be moved to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
18 November 2009
RAF Flies Away From Aldergrove
The last RAF squadron based in Northern Ireland has left Aldergrove, the Ministry of Defence has said. Yesterday, 230 'Tiger' Squadron took off in a helicopter diamond formation from Aldergrove for their new base at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. The flight of the Pumas marked the end of the RAF's 91-year history of flying from Northern Ireland.
RAF Flies Away From Aldergrove
The last RAF squadron based in Northern Ireland has left Aldergrove, the Ministry of Defence has said. Yesterday, 230 'Tiger' Squadron took off in a helicopter diamond formation from Aldergrove for their new base at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. The flight of the Pumas marked the end of the RAF's 91-year history of flying from Northern Ireland.
22 July 2002
MoD refuse to exonerate Chinook crash pilots
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declined to accept a report by a House of Lords select committee into the 1994 Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre. Despite a finding by peers that there was no justification for the pilots to be blamed for the crash, the MoD said it "did not accept" the conclusion of the Lords select committee.
MoD refuse to exonerate Chinook crash pilots
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declined to accept a report by a House of Lords select committee into the 1994 Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre. Despite a finding by peers that there was no justification for the pilots to be blamed for the crash, the MoD said it "did not accept" the conclusion of the Lords select committee.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Apart from a little patchy drizzle it will be a dry evening and night with variable amounts of cloud. A few mist and fog patches forming. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
