“I was delighted that in a meeting with Colonel Ed Heal, Commandant of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at MOD Lyneham, on Friday we had a wide ranging discussion about non-military activities on the base. Col Heal readily agreed to my suggestion that he should cancel the motorcar track days which were planned for this year and about which local people have expressed a great deal of concern. I was glad to be able to confirm to Col Heal that local people welcomed very many of the other activities which occur on the base, including Go-Kart racing which is much enjoyed by the young soldiers on the base and others. Activities such as police training will also make good use of the tarmac left over from RAF days.

“With some 800 local people employed on the base and considering the huge contribution which it makes to the local economy, I am delighted to have had this opportunity of cementing very close relations between local people and MOD Lyneham, (both REME and the Defence Technical Training College), in this way.  I know that local people will very much welcome Col Heal’s decision with regard to the motorcar track days.”