RAF Scampton’s Runway: From Dambusters’ Glory to Asylum Haven?
By Claire Duffin
Updated: 17:00 EDT, 27 August 2023
What happens when you mix a bunch of portable cabins, a runway that once felt the thunder of the Dambusters’ mission, and a government plan that has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster designed by Salvador Dali? Well, you get the former Dambusters’ HQ, now adorned with these portable little dwellings, thanks to the Government’s grand idea of turning it into a refugee detention center. Brace yourselves, because this is as perplexing as a Rubik’s Cube marathon.
Imagine this: up to 2,000 asylum seekers might find themselves bunking down at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. Yep, that place where the Dambusters once roared with their epic mission back in May 1943. It’s like a plot twist straight out of a movie that nobody asked for.
But hold your horses, folks! Not everyone’s popping champagne and throwing confetti at this plan. West Lindsey council is giving it the stink-eye, arguing that this spot just ain’t the right fit for such shenanigans. It’s like trying to fit a giraffe into a Mini Cooper – technically possible, but definitely a bad idea.
The Dambusters, you say? Oh, those daredevils from the 617 Squadron who decided that blowing up dams in the Ruhr Valley was a smashing good time. They even had ‘bouncing bombs’, because why settle for regular bombs when you can have bouncy ones? Now, instead of dams, it’s portable cabins raining down on the runway. Times have changed, my friends.
Sarah Carter, the voice of the Save Our Scampton campaign, is giving these cabins some serious side-eye. “Bit disrespectful,” she says, while pondering the impending judicial review like a master chess player. If they win this showdown, all these cabins will be carted off, and guess who’s footing the bill? The taxpayers, of course. Because who doesn’t love a good tax-funded cabin relocation?
But wait, there’s more! Tory councillor Roger Patterson is dropping some wisdom bombs. Those cabins? Probably for workmen. You know, the folks who might spruce up the place as it transforms into the ultimate detention getaway. It’s like turning a classic car into a pizza delivery scooter. Practical? Maybe. Nonsensical? Definitely.
Hold onto your hats, because it’s about to get even more wild. Remember Guy Gibson, the Dambusters’ hero? He had a dog. A dog that met its unfortunate end under the wheels of a car. That very dog is buried in this spot. If dogs could roll their eyes from beyond the grave, this one would be on a never-ending eye roll.
Oh, and let’s not forget the Red Arrows team, those sky daredevils who dazzle us with their acrobatics. They used to call this place home. But now, with these cabins sprouting like mushrooms after a rainstorm, who knows what the sky will hold? Maybe asylum seekers will learn to skywrite messages of hope and confusion.
But hold up, historians and RAF veterans are hitting the brakes on this whole asylum plan. They’re not amused and have even penned a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman. They’re waving the red flag, shouting “Hold your horses!” louder than a stadium full of sports fans.
Home Office spokesman enters the scene, armed with a ready response: “Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites will end the use of expensive hotels to house those arriving in small boats.” Ah, yes, because portable cabins are clearly the antidote to luxury hotels. Makes perfect sense, right?
So there you have it, folks. From Dambusters’ heroics to a runway with portable cabins, RAF Scampton is embroiled in a tale that even Salvador Dali would find bewildering. Asylum seekers, bouncing bombs, and a dog’s grave – all in one bewildering mix. Keep your seatbelts fastened, because this rollercoaster is far from over.