Lamb Presses MoD on Future of RAF West Raynham land

8.25.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Sep 2004

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, has called on the MoD to release RAF West Raynham 'for the benefit of the local community'. Mr Lamb is concerned that an early decision is made on the base following announcements relating to the future of RAF Coltishall and Neatishead, and has written to Defence Minister Adam Ingram expressing his concerns.

"Since RAF West Raynham closed 10 years ago, there has been a substantial decay of the housing stock and of other buildings on the site," said Mr Lamb. "My fear is that if things are left any longer, then it may be uneconomic to bring the houses back into use."

Mr Lamb is also calling on the MoD to provide greater support in drawing up a planning brief for the site: "The problem the district council have is that given the very tight financial position, they are understandably wary of committing significant resources to developing a full planning brief without getting any real indication about the prospects of the land being released."

Norman Lamb has asked the Minister, given the history of the site, whether the MoD can either share the cost of the planning brief or preferably pay for it in full.