Businesses sought to take over RAF base | |
| THE FUTURE use of the redundant RAF Edzell base will become clearer next
month.
A closing date of September 10 has been set for offers for the base, but a
decision on the preferred bidder will not be made until three weeks after.
Decision day will be very close to September 30, when the US military hand
back the keys to the MoD after 37 years of calling it a little piece of home.
Ryden, instructed to sell the 500-acre military base, which carries a #5
million price tag, said international interest has been shown in the
installation.
Proposals so far for the base include turning it into an industrial estate,
electronics factory, racetrack and a private hospital.
Ryden, who have been touting the base since May, said companies and
organisations not only in Scotland but throughout the globe had shown
interest.
Roy Durie, a partner at Ryden, said two ex-servicemen once stationed at RAF
Edzell and now in the business world were among those interested.
He explained, "In marketing the base, we have spent a lot of effort in
targeting the US market. We reckon there must have been between 60,000 and
70,000 Americans through the base over the years.
"Hopefully, many of them will have gone into civilian life as business people
and, with their past connections with RAF Edzell, will see the potential of
the base."
Mr Durie believed if that potential could be realised, up to 500 jobs could
be created.
He pointed to the closure of a Royal Naval stores depot near Edinburgh, once
employing three storemen, sold by the firm. Business and industry has now
created 50 jobs there.
"Personally speaking, I think the best solution would be for a developer to
take over RAF Edzell, find manufacturing tenants for the buildings and reopen
the runways," he said.
"We might not be talking of a lot of flights, but it would be an advantage to
have that capability.
"If everything went right, we could be talking about 500 jobs. The MoD has
said it would not necessarily take the highest offer, but the one which would
create the most jobs and got the backing of the local councils and enterprise
companies."
Offers are being invited for the whole site or sub-divided into three
portions. These are:
The domestic site including 144 houses, a school and recreational areas
covering 54 acres.
The administration area with most office and aircraft hangar space amounting
to 100 acres.
The operational area which has two runways, security buildings and 344 acres.
Montrose Chamber of Commerce has been keen to ensure the economic hole in
Angus and the Mearns left by the Americans' departure is filled.
It sent a letter and brochure to 180 major manufacturers of electronic
components and equipment which are expanding, but do not have a manufacturing
base in the European Union.
Most of the manufacturers targeted were in the USA, but 37 were based in
Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.
The chamber asked US personnel stationed there the future use to which they
thought the base would be most suited.
It continued, "They consider that it would be particularly adaptable to
technical operations involving the manufacture or employment of electronic
components and equipment."
In Edzell, villagers appear to have become over-loaded with speculation over
the future use of the neighbouring facility.
Newsagent Bert Scott said, "Since the closure was announced two years ago,
there has been a lot of talk about RAF Edzell.
"Different rumours and counter-rumour came to nothing and now no-one is
building their hopes up of anything in particular going ahead." =================================================================== Edzell base could be set for take-offFLYING LOOKS likely to return to the runways at RAF Edzell - after a lull of 40 years. Sellers of the redundant spy base, which closed on Tuesday when the last handful of American personnel left, said yesterday bidders were keen to open up the landing strips. A number of preferred bidders being interviewed by selling agents Ryden have been attracted to the base by its air-links capability. Ryden partner Roy Durie said, "There is a definite pressure from bidders for aircraft communications. I am pretty certain the runways will be reopened. Mr Durie said one of the parties interested in taking over the 144 houses which were once occupied by the US servicemen and their families also wanted to use the runways. Two other bidders for the more commercial areas of the 500-acre base - offices and three 56,000 square foot hangars - were interested in bringing in their own aircraft. A cargo operation was being considered as was an expression of interest by a party keen to use part of the site to service light aircraft and helicopters. Mr Durie said the runways were in "reasonable condition", with one slightly shorter at the moment because of a building which had been erected on it by the US military. Mr Durie said there had been 13 offers in all made for the base - two from overseas and the rest from UK-based parties with a further 10 "expressing interest" in small sections of it. The base is being sold as a whole or in three lots - the domestic site which includes the houses and a school; the administration area with most of the office accommodation and hangar space; and the operational area which includes the security buildings and two runways. Having examined the bids, Mr Durie says it is likely the redundant spy base will go to more than one bidder. He explained, "I am pretty sure it will be a split sale. It takes different skills dealing with housing and the commercial buildings." Mr Durie hoped progress could be made quickly, with a meeting of the Edzell Task Force, set up in the wake of the closure, due to take place in a fortnight where he hoped to have firmed up most of the proposals. He added, "After decisions have been made and legal formalities completed, I could envisage this changing hands by January 1998." The runways have remained dormant since the station was mothballed in 1958 by the RAF, prior to the US forces moving in in 1960. The occasional helicopter visit carrying high-ranking US military chiefs were the only arrivals by air after the base took on its top-secret role. RAF Edzell went on a war footing in 1940. Immediately following the second world war, the base took on the role of aircraft salvage and became the Boot Hill of the RAF. Hundreds of unwanted heavy bombers and fighters made their last journey to Edzell to be unceremoniously broken up for spares and scrap. Ironically, 150 German prisoners of war worked at the aerodrome to help in the destruction process. Cheers Eric Walker, Brechin Home Page | |
This site is created
by Roger Shambaugh and Dale Trzebiatowski for the hope to regain the good
times at RAF Edzell and get people back in touch.
