Residents rally against 'unworkable' plans to house 1,200 men in rural leafy village

Emergency services, utility providers, local authorities, and Linton-on-Ouse residents have united to reject plans to use the former RAF base as an asylum centre in the village.

Concerns have been raised about the proposal to house up to 1,200 men at the decommissioned RAF site in the village, which is home to around 700 residents.

The proposal has been branded "unworkable" and " the wrong plan in the wrong place" by the local action group.

Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of York have written to the Home Office urging it to use the site for housing rather than an asylum centre, with North Yorkshire County Council also formally opposing the plan.

But the Linton-On-Ouse Action Group said the proposal remains under consideration, despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham claiming three times on national television a month ago that he would listen to concerns.

Professor Olga Matthias, spokeswoman for the Linton‑on‑Ouse Action Group, said: "As stated by all stakeholders, without urgent infrastructure upgrades, professional staffing and proper safeguarding, additional funding for fire and police, health and social care, housing large numbers of vulnerable people at the former RAF site poses unacceptable risks to both asylum seekers and the local community, which is why every single stakeholder has said no to the proposal."

She added: "It is a real shame that Mr Burnham, who publicly pledged to listen to us on national television, has not, and he is definitely not fulfilling his promise of devolving power as he is not listening to our Mayor either - we are starting to think he is full of hot air or as they say up north all mouth and no trousers."

Prof Matthias also revealed to GB News that neither the campaign group nor the village has had any contact from the Government since it announced it was reviving the plans four months ago.

Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, continues to fight the plans in his Linton-On-Ouse constituency, but has been deferred to the civil service.

He previously told GB News the "only people supporting this plan are the Labour Government".

Campaigners in Linton-on-Ouse have urged a government investigation after claims that it could cost taxpayers £270million.

The Linton-on-Ouse Action Group has written to the Chancellor, demanding a full financial review before the government uses public money to convert the former RAF base on the edge of the village in North Yorkshire.

The group claims the centre could cost between £443 and £853 per occupied bed per night, depending on occupancy levels, significantly more than the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels.

But the Home Office says its plan to close asylum hotels and move people into alternative accommodation is saving taxpayers money.

A spokesman said: "The government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1billion on asylum support since the election.

"We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites which are designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community. As part of the process, we engage with local authorities and police forces to ensure the safety and security of those in the surrounding area."

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In an open letter to Chancellor John Healey, the group claims North Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) may have to take back RAF Linton-on-Ouse by July 2029.

They also say the site has been extensively decommissioned; reinstating water, sewerage, power, and communications would be costly, time‑consuming, and extremely difficult at this rural site.

According to the group, local health, policing, fire, social services, and voluntary providers cannot meet the scale of need without unacceptable pressures on existing provisions, meaning asylum seekers would essentially go without key services.

The group added that proceeding with the centre despite unanimous local opposition would call into question commitments to listen to regional mayors and residents, truly devolve decision‑making, and operate in a democracy.

RAF Linton opened in 1937 and became an important bomber station during the Second World War, when British and Canadian airmen flew dangerous missions against the Nazis.

The base closed in 2020 and was subsequently proposed as an asylum reception centre by Boris Johnson's Conservative government in 2022.

Those plans were eventually shelved after tireless opposition from residents, only for Labour to announce this year they were once again looking at housing asylum seekers.

Back then, the plans were branded the UK’s answer to "Guantanamo Bay", dubbing it "Guantanamo-on-Ouse".

Under the latest proposals, the former RAF base would house single adult male asylum seekers aged 18 to 65, with CCTV and 24-hour security.

The men would be free to come and go, but would be required to sign in and out.

Labour said the scheme would operate for a minimum of three years and cut Britain’s reliance on expensive asylum hotels.

Unlike other isolated military camps earmarked for asylum processing, RAF Linton is embedded in residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

Many homes backing onto the former RAF base could house asylum seekers, and a children's playground is also nearby.

Linton-on-Ouse Action Group will keep campaigning against the plans, and the Home Office says it has not yet made a final decision.