The Home Office has not confirmed that it accepts the concerns raised by residents, the Linton-on-Ouse Action Group and North Yorkshire Police, or that it will meet the conditions being sought by local representatives.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, told a committee that she had met the Home Office three times to ensure local residents’ and police concerns were being heard. She also said she was speaking to the Chief Constable on a weekly basis and had made further representations during the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime:
I have now met with the Home Office three times to ensure that the concerns that have been raised with me, both by residents at Linton-on-Ouse and also by North Yorkshire Police, are being properly heard by the people at the Home Office who will be looking at making this decision. I’m also speaking to the Chief Constable about it on a weekly basis.
However, being heard does not mean the concerns have been accepted or that the Home Office has agreed to change its plans.
Ms Coles has sought assurances on the recovery of additional policing costs, operational arrangements and the timetable for returning the site to the Ministry of Defence. The Home Office’s position on those requests has not been established by the statement made to the committee.
Feasibility study expected at the end of October
The Home Office’s feasibility study is expected by the end of October 2026. Until its findings and the department’s response are available, the proposed operating arrangements, overall costs and timetable remain unresolved.
The Action Group estimates that the scheme could cost £853 per person per night and argues that the time required to prepare and dismantle the site could make the proposal poor value for money. That figure is the group’s estimate and has not been independently verified.
The key question is whether the Home Office considers the site viable and whether it will provide the financial, operational and timing assurances sought by local representatives. No acceptance of those requests should be inferred from the fact that discussions have taken place.