My hatred of the government
I did sign this petition in time. However, I have just received the following link from the Downing Street site.
http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page10967.asp
For those can’t access it for what ever reason, here’s the Downing street reply.
northolt – epetition reply
12 February 2007
We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Stop the demolition of historic Battle of Britain architecture at RAF Northolt.”
* Read the petition
* Petitions home page
Read the Government’s response
The Government takes its obligations to preserving the heritage of the defence estate very seriously. However, the need to preserve must be balanced against the need to fulfil our defence requirements, both now and in the future.
Project MOD Estates London (MoDEL) seeks to implement the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Estate Strategy by combining operations from a number of sites across Greater London at RAF Northolt. It represents a significant rationalisation of the defence estate in Greater London, consolidating the facilities occupied by UK forces onto a modern, integrated ‘anchor site’. This will generate a number of benefits in terms of reduced running costs, improved efficiency, consolidated resources and improvement to quality of life for the current and future generations of MOD personnel.
In investing an initial £180 million in the development of RAF Northolt the MOD developed a masterplan, informed by the English Heritage’s Aviation Thematic Review. This masterplan sought to deliver a fit for purpose site which improved the quality of service personnel accommodation while preserving and recording heritage elements. At only 190 hectares the site is a relatively small airfield and the area capable of development is constrained by town and country planning limitations. There are also issues relating to airfield operations and security restrictions.
Difficult decisions had to be made. Both the A type hanger (hanger 6), including the associated Operational ready room, and the former Operations Room (building 27), were not recommended for listing as part of the Aviation Thematic review and are subsequently to be demolished after an agreed scheme of archaeological recording. These buildings will make way for the new offices and parade square for the Queen’s Colour Squadron plus a facility to house the Central Band of the RAF and Headquarters Music Service.
Significantly the masterplan also includes enhancement to the setting of certain buildings such as the current Station HQ, (building 28) and the Officers’ Mess which is being sympathetically enlarged and its function retained in keeping with its Grade II listed status.
Through this MOD intends to strike the right balance between preserving the most important elements of our Nation’s past whilst meeting the needs of our armed forces in the future.
Sounds to me like the decision had already been made way before the petition was released.
Thanks for not caring.
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