Minister Refuses to Visit—It’s Time to Make Our Voices Heard

Anna Turley, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, is located just 60 minutes from Linton-on-Ouse. Yet, despite being an hour away, she has not visited our village or inspected the site. Without stepping foot in Linton-on-Ouse, the Home Office cannot grasp how dangerously close and unsuitable this proposed asylum facility is to our daily lives.  

The Proximity Problem: Right in the Heart of Our Village

The facility is not an isolated, distant base—it sits right in the middle of our community:

Village Center Entrance: The site entrance opens directly into the middle of the village.

School & Children’s Safety: The entrance opens onto the primary footpath used by school children, with the primary school just 600 metres away.  

Public Amenities: The local village hall and main playground sit directly opposite the site, with a toddler park less than 10 metres away.

Direct Residential Border: Family homes and private gardens back right up against the facility boundary.

A Taxpayer Money Pit: Millions Wasted on a Non-Viable Site

Re-opening feasibility studies for RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a reckless misuse of public funds:  

Failed 2022 Attempt: Millions in taxpayer money were wasted in 2022 on feasibility studies, only for the government to confirm the site was not cost-effective.

Compensation & Escalating Costs: Millions were paid in compensation to contractors like SERCO when the 2022 plans were aborted. At the time, the Home Office estimated it would cost over £30 million just to supply adequate water and power to the site.

Deteriorating Infrastructure: Since 2022, the base has been fully decommissioned by the RAF and has deteriorated further. Redoing feasibility studies now will cost taxpayers millions more for a site that offers zero value for money compared to standard alternatives.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Write to Minister Anna Turley (anna.turley.mp@parliament.uk)

We need every supporter to write directly to Anna Turley in her formal role as Minister for Border Security and Asylum. Every email adds to the pressure.  

What to include in your email:

Demand a Site Visit: Ask Minister Turley to travel the short 60 minutes to Linton-on-Ouse to inspect the site and see its proximity to our primary school, toddler park, and homes.  

Demand Financial Accountability: Ask for a transparent cost-benefit analysis explaining why public funds are being spent re-evaluating a site that failed basic financial viability in 2022.

Highlight Community Impact: Point out that dropping an operational facility into the middle of a small rural village does not represent value for money or a sensible accommodation solution.

Please take two minutes today to send your email. Together, we can make sure our community is heard. Thank you for your continued support!