People of Norfolk urged to unite to save RAF Marham
An urgent rallying call has today been issued to the people of Norfolk to unite behind a campaign to safeguard the future of RAF Marham.
Residents are being urged to add their names to a petition, which is part of the 'Make it Marham' campaign being backed by councils, MPs, businesses and the media, calling for RAF Marham to be the base for the UK's Tornado fleet.
South-West Norfolk MP, Elizabeth Truss, plans to hand in the petition at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, 30 November.
The Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review is likely to lead to the number of RAF Tornado bases reducing from two to one – leading to the closure of either RAF Marham in Norfolk or RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland.
RAF Marham employs around 5,000 staff which, including family members, amounts to a community of around 8,000 people. Their incomes combined with the purchase of goods and services from local businesses contributes in excess of £130 million to the local economy.
Among those backing the campaign are Norfolk County Council, the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland Council, Norfolk's MPs, Shaping Norfolk's Future, the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, and various media organisations, including the Eastern Daily Press, the Lynn News and KLFM.
- The 'Make it Marham' online petition can be accessed at:
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/40578.html
- In addition to signing the online petition, anyone can become a fan of the campaign's Facebook page by searching for 'Make it Marham'. Users of Twitter can use the hashtag #MakeitMarham.
- Hard copy petitions are available for download from www.norfolk.gov.uk
Hard copies will also be available at, and can be returned completed to, Norfolk County Council libraries all of next week - until 5pm, Friday, 19 November.
A hard copy petition will be available on the reception of the County Council offices at Priory House in King's Lynn and printed copies can be returned there until 5pm on Wednesday, 24 November.
A hard copy petition will be available on the reception of County Hall and printed copies can be returned there until 5pm on Friday, 26 November.
Eastern Daily Press offices, those of the Lynn News and KLFM, will also host petitions until, and can also receive signed copies up to, 5pm on Friday, 26 November. They will also be on display and available to sign in the borough council offices in Chapel Street, King's Lynn.
Petitions can also be posted to Steven Reilly, Norfolk County Council Communications, Room 501, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH by 5pm on Wednesday, 24 November.
Quotes:
Launching the campaign, South-West Norfolk MP, Elizabeth Truss, said:
"I am delighted to see the launch of the Make it Marham campaign. The people of Norfolk are not going to take the potential loss of such a vital facility lying down and will fight to make Marham the home of the UK's Tornado fleet."
Derrick Murphy, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said:
"We have a tight timescale to make this strength of feeling known, so let's all unite quickly for the good of our county.
"We are still recovering from the loss of both RAF Coltishall and RAF Neatishead in 2008. The loss of RAF Marham would be even more damaging to Norfolk and the surrounding area. The base is worth around £130 million to the economy of our area. Losing it would have a catastrophic impact on businesses supplying the base, and local shops, leisure facilities and public services would inevitably suffer greatly.
"In both economic and military terms, retaining RAF Marham is the only option and we want the people of Norfolk to join us in making this as clear as possible to the Government."
Ian Mackie, Deputy Leader of Norfolk County Council, said:
"We have a short window of opportunity in order for the petition to reach Downing Street by the requested date. The County Council has moved quickly, so that we can show the true strength of feeling that exists in support of RAF Marham.
"An electronic petition is available from our website (www.norfolk.gov.uk), a hard copy to download, and we are placing hard copies in all our libraries and also at Priory House in King's Lynn and at County Hall.
"Norfolk needs to work swiftly to safeguard one of its most prized assets."
Nick Daubney, Leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, said:
"If the Government makes its decision based on cost-effectiveness, then we can be confident about the future of the Tornado fleet at RAF Marham. But we cannot be complacent. The livelihoods of many of us, the success of our businesses and the future for many of our young people depends upon the retention of RAF Marham as a front-line flying base along with the supporting activities of BAE Systems and Rolls Royce. Together they are a crucial and very welcome part of our community and so, as a community, we must stand together and leave the government in absolutely no doubt as to why they must Make it Marham."
Ann Steward, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said:
"Norfolk has already suffered greatly by the loss of RAF bases. We simply cannot afford to lose RAF Marham as well.
The salaries of the 5,000 employees, and their families, which jointly make up the 8,000-strong community, go directly into our local economy. Our businesses earn vital revenue from supplying the base.
"Much like the basis of our A11 dualling campaign, the financial benefits to Norfolk are clear and I encourage the people of Norfolk to lend their voice swiftly to this campaign."
Janet Murphy, local County Councillor, said:
"If the community of Marham all lived in one location, the 8,000-strong community would be the third biggest town in West Norfolk, after King's Lynn and Downham Market. The impact of losing the base on both an economic and social level is clear - it would simply be a disaster for Norfolk and especially West Norfolk.
"We have a two week period to really come together and show just how much RAF Marham is worth to this area, so please sign the petition."
William Nunn, Leader of Breckland Council, said:
"Breckland Council enjoys excellent links with the armed forces in the district. Indeed RAF Marham has been chosen as the venue for our Pride in Breckland awards in March which I think demonstrates what an integral part of our community the RAF base is. Although located at the very edge of the district the positive influences, both social and economic, are felt throughout Breckland and indeed Norfolk. I urge everyone in Norfolk to get behind the campaign to keep the Tornado aircraft at Marham."
Mark Hodges, Chairman of Shaping Norfolk's Future and Chief Executive Aviva UK, said:
"The closure of RAF Marham would have a devastating and irreversible impact on Norfolk, with it providing around one in 12 jobs in West Norfolk and contributing in excess of £130 million per annum directly into the local economy.
"With the proposed closure of RAF Cottesmore and RAF Wittering, this area cannot afford to see a third base shut down, a base which is a centre of excellence and helps raise the aspirations and skills set of young people in the area."
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, said:
"It makes economic sense to develop RAF Marham, not just for Norfolk and its neighbouring areas, but for the UK. We need to articulate at all levels how much we value this jewel in our economic crown, as RAF Marham will be a key driver to developing Norfolk's economy and the creation of jobs in the future."