THE recently merged Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is set to build a new community safety training centre on the site of Wroughton Airfield.

The plans were revealed at a meeting of the new combined Fire Authority earlier this month when it was confirmed that negotiations with the Science Museum Group, who own the airfield, are nearing completion.

The proposed site, hangar C3, will be leased for a 20 year period at a peppercorn rate.

The meeting heard that an agreement is “sitting on the desk of the Chief Executive of the Science Museum Group awaiting formal approval.”

However it also emerged that the arrival of the safety centre is to come at a heavy cost for the group of local businesses currently based in that particular hangar.

The tenants, some of whom have been at the site for eight years, will now be forced to find alternative business premises.

In a further blow, it was revealed that despite the advanced nature of the negotiations, the tenants had been kept entirely in the dark by the Science Museum Group until now.

Last week they confirmed that they had no idea that discussions about their future at the airfield had been going on for months without their knowledge.

Paul Preddy, Director of A-Zone Logistics, who are the primary leaseholder, said: “I’m not aware of it at all, this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

Bob Hills, owner of Bonkers Play Ltd, who supply equipment for children’s play areas and have been based at the airfield site for eight years, said: “It’s news to me, I’ve been here quite a long time and it wasn’t my intention to leave.

“I’ve made a commitment here.”

The Science Museum Group finally informed their tenants at the end of last week, but only after they learned that news of their plans had slipped out at a public meeting.

A spokesperson from the Museum said: “We have recently been in discussion with the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority about a future tenancy at our Wroughton site.

“This week we met with the existing tenant and gave them notice that we will be ending their contract in about 12 months.

“We regularly review the use of our Wroughton site to make sure we are using it in the best way to benefit the Science Museum Group.”

A spokesperson from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The site at Wroughton is the preferred location for the new Wiltshire Safety Centre, which will complement two existing centres already operated by the SafeWise charity in Bournemouth and Weymouth.

“Funding for this development was provided by the Government as part of the £5.5 million allocated to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to support the combination.

“Officers have been in discussions with the site owners for some time and we hope to conclude these negotiations very soon.