Keeping Red Arrows in Lincolnshire is worth £1.5m a year, say tourism bosses
Industry bosses in Lincolnshire have welcomed a decision to keep the Red Arrows at RAF Scampton, saying they help bring £1.5 million to the county's economy.
This week it emerged the aerobatic display team would remain at the base, near Lincoln, until at least the end of the decade.
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New era: Doubts have been lifted over the RAF Scampton future of the prestigious Red Arrows display team
Now Mark Sturgess, director of regeneration and planning at West Lindsey District Council, said: "We are delighted to hear the Red Arrows will remain based in West Lindsey.
"The high profile specialist aerobatic display team are well known throughout the world and attract visitors to our area to catch a glimpse of the Reds. The Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire Project has been developed to promote the county's aviation heritage and improve the visitor offer, including ensuring all the museums and attractions are visitor friendly and accredited.
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"In 2011 these sites attracted 120,000 visitors, spending over £1.5m in the local economy.
"The popularity of the Red Arrows plays a large part in the development of aviation tourism in West Lindsey and Lincolnshire.
"We are proud they are based in our district and really delighted they will remain here for the foreseeable future."
Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey told the House of Commons the jets would remain for the foreseeable future.
He said the Red Arrows at Scampton represented "the most effective way of operating ... without impacting on other flying". The runway at the base will be resurfaced as part of the decision.
Wynford Owen, 83, who has lived in Scampton for more than 50 years, is delighted the team is staying in the village. "The lure of the Red Arrows helps attract visitors into the village, which brings extra revenue.
"People are pleased to see them carrying on here.
"There has been a long standing relationship between the village and the RAF so it is great to see it continue – the Red Arrows at Scampton is a tradition.
"I am proud when I see them in the sky, and long may it continue."
Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh, who campaigned to keep the team at Scampton, was delighted at the news.
"This is a vindication of our long campaign and a credit to all those who have worked so hard," he said.
"The Red Arrows are a treasured part of Lincolnshire.
"The MoD's investment in RAF Scampton's runway demonstrates a welcome commitment to the future.
"I have always been clear on my desire to keep the Red Arrows flying out of the home of the Dambusters," he said.
Comments
by FreedomSpeech
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 3:36PM
“Adrain. They're staying. Suck it up.”
by hornet68
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 2:31PM
“oh for gods sake Adrian their history runs for 44 years i would say that it is a pretty good safety record. These men ar professionals at the top of there abilities and they do it from choice after going through a really tough selection process. Life is all about risks this is why most people enjoy the spectacle of aerobatics. These men and there machine are one on the things that put the GREAT in GREAT BRITAIN! Go and enjoy your life of mediocrity and tedium and stop boring us witless with your mindless ramblings.”
by Sir_Chasm
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 12:41PM
“"I have made my point..........."
Shame it's so full of fail. There was only one Titanic and it was responsible for a far greater loss of life in one journey than the Red Arrows have been in thousands of flights. So by your logic travelling in an ocean going liner is far more dangerous than travelling in a fast jet fighter :D”
by Adrian1208
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 12:17PM
“Eatmygoal, If there superhuman, why have so many crashes????????”
by Adrian1208
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 12:13PM
“Chasm, you quite rightly list other things that cause more deaths, but count the amount of Red Arrows (9) now count the amount of motorcycles etc 1000s.....
I have made my point...........”
by hornet68
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 1:25PM
“yaaaaawwwwnnnnn get over yourselves Adrian and Mick.”
by eatmygoal
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 10:18AM
“Adrian, you keep going on about the pretty colours in order to dumb things down and make spectators seem childlike. How does this tally with you saying it is incredibly dangerous? It couldn't just possibly be that people actually like the thrill of watching near super human skills being shown?”
by Sir_Chasm
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 10:17AM
“"They never like to talk about the Thick Black Smoke when one crashes, causing death & sadness & destruction.............."
Here (in no particular order) is a list of things responsible for more death and destruction than the Red Arrows:
Civilian aircraft
Ferries
Trains
Lorries
Cars
Motorbikes
Horses
Bicycles
Lawn mowers
Bungee jumps
Power tools
Stepladders
Prescription medicines
Over the counter medicines
Incorrect use of capital letters and full stops
OK, the last one is merely wishful thinking on my part, but the point remains: your argument is utterly risible.”
by FreedomSpeech
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 9:58AM
“"They never like to talk about the Thick Black Smoke when one crashes, causing death & sadness & destruction.............."
Emotive drivel. If your case is that everything hazardous should be done away with, then The Red Arrows will be well down the list.”
by Adrian1208
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 12:35AM
“Saxilby_Mick, well posted, it goes to show the true cost of the Red Arrows...
There are some people on here, who want to keep the Red Arrows in the sky at any cost, they like to see all the pretty colours of smoke they leave in the sky..
They never like to talk about the Thick Black Smoke when one crashes, causing death & sadness & destruction..............”