Fury over plans to turn Dambusters HQ into migrant detention centre

Locals are furious over new plans to turn a former Dambusters headquarters into a migrant detention centre. RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, is being touted as a centre for asylum seekers by the Labour government as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer struggles to get a grip on the migrant crisis.

The base was used in the iconic World War Two mission to destroy German dams which eventually changed the course of the war. The office of Guy Gibson, who led the 617 Squadron on their daring Dambusters mission, remains at the base today. It was also used to home Vulcan bombers and Red Arrows after 1945, but has since been at the centre of controversial migrant plans. In 2023, the Conservatives planned to use the RAF HQ to house 2,000 migrants in a whopping £50 million plan. However, it was eventually scrapped for not providing "value for money".

As reported by the Daily Mail, RAF Scampton has once again been identified as a potential detention centre for migrants. Defence minister Luke Pollard confirmed this week that such centres could be set up on Ministry of Defence land.

Furious locals have now spoken out about the plans. They fear their stunning village will be taken over by asylum seekers.

Steve Plews, landlord of The Dambuster's Arms, the village's only pub, said: "They spent £62 million up there last year. They said it had to be 'liveable' for the asylum seekers. But it was alright for our lads to live there when it was an RAF base."

After the previous plan was axed, there were hopes the site would be turned into a centre for aviation history. However, these plans, which include a hotel and Red Arrow attractions, are now under threat.

Mr Plews said: "I cannot say we are surprised though. It is a typical Labour U-turn. They could not lie straight in bed. The fight starts again - even though we thought we had won it."

Andy Pickett, 63, spent 37 years in the RAF and is against the plans. He said: "I don't think it is financially viable.

"The politicians are being poorly advised by the civil servants who wrongly assumed because it was an operational RAF base until two years ago that the buildings are still structurally sound, and they are not.

"Only 10 per cent of the estate was utilised by the RAF. Thirty years ago the camp was shut. The officers mess and most of the barracks blocks were boarded up.

"Internally, the ceilings have collapsed and asbestos has been exposed. To bring those buildings back into use would cost an absolute fortune."

Mr Pollard confirmed this week that sites, including Scampton, were being reviewed as part of a new government effort to close migrant hotels.

He said: "The Home Office has... decided against accommodation that the Ministry of Defence offered in the past. But we’re looking at all of them again at the moment.

"The Prime Minister wants all asylum hotels closed, as do I, as does the British public. And by standing up temporary accommodation on those sites, we can support the closure of those asylum hotels even faster."

He added: "We've deployed a military planning team into Border Security Command and the Home Office to look at military and non-military sites, about where we can help build temporary but adequate accommodation that enables us to transfer those folks from asylum hotels into that temporary accommodation so we can close even more hotels."

Edy Hammonds, originally from South America, has lived in Scampton for 38 years. He couldn't believe it when she heard the news.

He said: "I suppose I am an immigrant myself. But I have lived here longer than my own country. As soon as I heard the news I thought "It can't be true. We are not going to have start all over again for goodness sake".

"I cannot see it happening but they are going to have a lot of trouble because we will fight even harder this time. I will fight.

"I hope it doesn't happen. We went through a stage last year when people were not coming into the village and we were scared to walk the dogs near the air base. The whole thing is ridiculous."

Meanwhile, Pete Sherwood, 62, added: "It is Labour going back on their word again as soon as they got back into Government.

"All the MPs need to do is send the migrants back as soon as their boats land. I do not agree with this at all, especially if they are talking about thousands in there.

"They are going to get bussed into Lincoln and Lincoln will be affected quite a lot. People will just stop going out because they have seen what has happened down in Essex."

Sally Grindrod-Smith, director of planning, regeneration and communities at West Lindsey District Council, believes the plans remain "wholly unsuitable".

She said:"The location presents significant challenges, including the protection of nationally important heritage, the limitations of local rural infrastructure, unresolved contamination issues, and the sheer scale of disruption such a proposal would cause to our communities."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We have committed to close all asylum hotels and to achieve this we will look at a range of cheaper, more appropriate sites like disused accommodation, industrial and ex-military sites so that we can reduce the impact on communities."