The MP for South Cotswolds has asked the government to fix what she calls poor communication with people living near RAF Fairford, saying residents “cannot get a straight answer from anyone” since a major incident at the base in September.
What Happened
Dr Roz Savage met Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis on 26 October to press for better communication between the airbase, the Ministry of Defence, local authorities and the parishes around the site. More than 80 homes in the village of Whelford were evacuated in September after a major incident was declared near the base.
Two British nationals appeared in court on 27 October in connection with an alleged Iran-linked plot. Residents say the lack of official information has left them uncertain about what happened and what comes next.
Three Requests to the Minister
Savage said she made three specific requests:
- That the emergency number given to residents is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as promised. The woman who first called to report the incident could not reach anyone.
- Clarity on the base’s future, including whether US bombers will return, and whether conditions on noise, communication and security can be attached to any renewal of the US Air Force’s arrangement to use the site.
- An up-to-date noise assessment under MoD rules, covering maintenance areas and aircraft parked with their engines running.
Jarvis told her he would raise the requests with the Minister for the Armed Forces. Savage said she now wants commitments from that minister. “My constituents deserve to be kept informed, and they deserve a base that behaves as a good neighbour,” she said.
Councillor Tristan Wilkinson, who represents Whelford on Cotswold District Council, said residents still do not have answers. “We are still waiting for someone in authority to give us some definitive answers and to give us a plan for the future,” he said.
The US Air Force said the safety and security of its personnel and host communities was its highest priority. It said it works daily with the Ministry of Defence Police and local UK law enforcement, and urged anyone who sees suspicious activity to dial 999. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
Background
The US flew bombers from RAF Fairford to the Middle East between March and October, after the UK approved a US request to use the base for defensive strikes on Iran. After the September incident, the US decided to withdraw all of its bombers from the base.
Five British men were arrested near the base in the early hours of 27 September on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences and were later released on bail. Residents had already raised concerns about jet engines running late at night, air pollution, floodlights shining into bedrooms and plane-spotters blocking lanes and verges. Several have told the BBC they feel they are living in limbo since the evacuation.
What Happens Next
Savage is waiting for a response from the Minister for the Armed Forces on the three requests. Whether US bombers will return to Fairford has not been confirmed.
This is a developing story. Cheltenham Times will update it as more information becomes available.
