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MEMORIAL FLIGHT'S FUTURE IS IN DOUBT
Todays Lincolnshire Echo newspaper
Doubt has been cast on whether the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will remain in Lincolnshire.
The flight, which includes one of just two airworthy Lancaster bombers left in the world and five Spitfire fighters, has been based at RAF Coningsby since 1976.
But plans to erect a permanent visitor centre there have been repeatedly put on hold because the historic aircraft may not be there in the future.
In a report to members of Lincolnshire County Council's planning and regulation committee, development officer Sandra Barron states "there is no guarantee that the BBMF will not be relocated, in which case the building would become redundant".
Councillors will be presented with an application for a five-year planning extension on the flight's temporary visitor centre on June 3.
The application comes just a week after it was revealed that the Red Arrows aerobatics team would be moving from RAF Scampton to RAF Waddington - putting Scampton's future in doubt.
BBMF spokesman Squadron Leader Al Pinner rebuffed suggestions that the flight might leave Coningsby.
"At the moment there are no plans at all to move," he said.
"The security of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's future here at the moment is pretty certain."
Officers at the council have recommended that councillors allow the temporary building to remain for the time being.
Silky
Todays Lincolnshire Echo newspaper
Doubt has been cast on whether the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will remain in Lincolnshire.
The flight, which includes one of just two airworthy Lancaster bombers left in the world and five Spitfire fighters, has been based at RAF Coningsby since 1976.
But plans to erect a permanent visitor centre there have been repeatedly put on hold because the historic aircraft may not be there in the future.
In a report to members of Lincolnshire County Council's planning and regulation committee, development officer Sandra Barron states "there is no guarantee that the BBMF will not be relocated, in which case the building would become redundant".
Councillors will be presented with an application for a five-year planning extension on the flight's temporary visitor centre on June 3.
The application comes just a week after it was revealed that the Red Arrows aerobatics team would be moving from RAF Scampton to RAF Waddington - putting Scampton's future in doubt.
BBMF spokesman Squadron Leader Al Pinner rebuffed suggestions that the flight might leave Coningsby.
"At the moment there are no plans at all to move," he said.
"The security of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's future here at the moment is pretty certain."
Officers at the council have recommended that councillors allow the temporary building to remain for the time being.
Silky
