All three of these sites are located within the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area.
Mildenhall airbase is currently home to over 3,200 military personnel and currently employs 400-500 UK civilian staff, whilst around 750 military personnel and 1,500 civilian jobs are based at the two Cambridgeshire bases.
The Pentagon has said that 2,000 US personnel will be relocated away from Mildenhall, but an additional 1,200 people will be stationed at nearby Lakenheath.
Mark Reeve, Chairman of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said:
“News today that three USAF stations are moving out of our area is clearly very disappointing. We have been aware of this potential closure risk as a part of the USAF review of European bases, and as such have been liaising with key partners at the local authorities, NewAnglia LEP and central Government to consider the options that could be available to us. By working together as a part of Matthew Hancock’s Mildenhall, Alconbury and Molesworth (MAM) Working Group we will support the community through these changes, and ensure that our work has a positive impact on the local economy in the longer-term.”
Mark Pendlington, Chairman of New Anglia LEP said: “This is clearly serious news. We are already working closely with our local authority partners, neighbouring LEPs and MPs, including Matt Hancock, to assess the full impact of the announcement and to work on a coordinated approach to minimise the impact.”
Matthew Hancock, West Suffolk MP and Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Energy, said: “I have met with the defence secretary, and others in government to ensure we can work, together with the American administration, to support the community.
“We will create a Mildenhall, Alconbury and Molesworth (MAM) Working Group, which I will chair, inviting local LEPs [local enterprise partnerships], councils, the Ministry of Defence and US representatives to ensure no stone is left unturned in supporting Mildenhall and the surrounding area.”
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