LIVES will be put in grave danger in the Cheviot hills and along the north Northumberland coast if air and sea rescue cover at RAF Boulmer is removed.
That is the fear being expressed by coastguards, lifeboat personnel and search and rescue teams after it emerged the north east's only air base is the subject of a Government review.
"It will be a huge blow if RAF Boulmer does go," admitted Seahouse
s fisherman and former lifeboat coxswain David Shiel.
He has been indebted to the rescue helicopter on several occasions, notably almost 20 years ago when his fishing boat, 'The Orca' sank 14 miles out to sea.
"The helicopter crew helped to save my life and they have done the same for many others since," he said. "They do a fantastic job and there's no doubt they would be sorely missed on the north east coast. They work well alongside the lifeboat and can save valuable time assisting in rescue efforts."
Only last month a Sea King helicopter from Boulmer was called out to pick up a family of four from the roof of their car after they had been trapped by the rising tide on Holy Island causeway.
There have also been many cases this summer where divers off the Farne Islands have been flown to the nearest decompression chambers in Hull and Aberdeen showing symptoms of 'the bends'.
Seahouses lifeboat member Ian Clayton said: "In maritime emergencies speed is often of the essence if tragedies are to be avoided and that is where the Sea King helicopters are so important.
"At the moment it is immensely reassuring for us to know that just five or six flying minutes away there is a Sea King helicopter with a highly skilled crew and medical expertise standing by.
"If they were to remove that facility from Boulmer, what would replace it and where would this area be covered from?"
These views were echoed by Stephen Old, team leader of the Northumberland National Park Search and Rescue Team.
He said: "A crucial resource the Sea King has is its ability to winch casualties from very difficult terrain and environment, which is where we primarily operate in.
"If 'A' Flight 202 Squadron were to go or be relocated far beyond this area, the time for getting a critically injured casualty to hospital will increase. It would mean a long extraction and a stretcher carried by hand from the hill to a suitable location where we could then hand over that casualty to a county ambulance or the air ambulance. This delay in getting such a casualty to hospital could have serious implications for their recovery.
"If the RAF goes ahead with its proposed rationalisation it must seriously consider maintaining search and rescue Sea Kings at Boulmer. If the Sea King is moved it will have serious time implications in getting that kind of asset to the north east."
RAF Boulmer is one of four stations being examined under the Ministry of Defence Strike Command review. Officials say that no decision has been taken yet and the study is likely to take several months.
However, they admit they are looking into the requirement for air combat support and fighter control units at Boulmer, RAF Neatishead in Norfolk, RAF Sealand on Deeside and RAF Stafford in the Midlands.
A letter to Alnwick District Council states: "It may be that not all four units will be required and the study may recommend the disposal of all or parts of one or more sites."
RAF Boulmer plays a huge role within the local economy and its closure or downgrading would undoubtedly spell disaster for villages such as Boulmer and Longhoughton.
The station is home to more than 700 servicemen and women, including around 250 RAF families who use local schools, and provides work for over 200 civilian staff. It also contributes an estimated £4 million a year into the local economy.
Berwick MP Alan Beith has expressed his concerns and plans to raise the matter in Parliament next week.
He said: "RAF Boulmer is a highly valued station, both by the RAF and the local community, and it makes a huge contribution to the local economy.
"Last time it was the helicopters that were under threat and we won that battle and I am fairly confident we can win again."
Any downgrading of RAF Boulmer would also come as a huge surprise given the multi-million pound revamp it has recently undergone. This investment has turned the base into the country's main centre for training fighter controllers, with a crucial role in protecting UK airspace - as well as providing air and sea rescue cover.
Boulmer is home to 202 Squadron, which operates search and rescue helicopters, and No 1 Air Command Centre, which is a mobile rapid-reaction radar unit.
It had also been primed for expansion with an intake of 220 personnel from RAF Neatishead and RAF Buchan, which is already earmarked for closure.
However, there is genuine concern because military experts have been calling for Britain's armed forces to adopt a more expeditionary role in world affairs and a move in this direction would diminish the need for large static bases.
