Peter
Viggers, MP for the Gosport constituency, said this week
that the announcement by the MoD to dispose of the Daedalus
site in Lee-on-the-Solent, poses important questions and
is of great concern to local people.
He said, “As
a first, overriding question, does the Ministry of Defence
recognize that its long occupation of
this large site and the support it has received from local
people should be acknowledged by giving some priority to
local interests.
“The MoD
has a residual duty to respect the partnership between
it and the local community, and the department should
take account of this in the disposal of the site.
“It would
be absolutely wrong to accept the highest offer from the
largest bidder.”
“The community
has already put forward a number of suggestions of possible
uses for the site, including sports
facilities, a business and leisure park, and continued use
for light aviation. I believe that the site should contain
facilities which can be used by the community, not sold off
for maximum profit.
“Hard questions
come out of the decision to sell the site. Firstly, the
site houses the Coastguard and air sea
rescue stations. Daedalus is ideal for this purpose and is
far more suitable than other sites that were initially proposed.
Secondly, the site is used by the Police for air operations,
and there are a number of other uses for which an alternative
would have to be found.
“I will be asking Ministers what plans they have for
the site, and how much consideration they have given to the
important role played by the vital services currently based
there. I believe that our community’s long-standing
partnership with the MoD should be acknowledged and our views
respected when plans for the development of such a prominent
site are considered.” |
