RAF chiefs have said that the decision to close RAF Lyneham in two years’ time is the right thing to do, pointing out that it will have no impact on frontline services.

The future of the Wiltshire base has been in the melting pot since 2003 when the Ministry of Defence announced it would be transferring the C130 Hercules fleet to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

The plan is for the base’s C130K and C130J fleets to move from Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton by next summer, and RAF Lyneham will be vacated by the end of 2012.

North Wiltshire’s Chamber of Commerce has claimed that the airbase’s closure will hit the economy to the tune of £90m, but bosses at Lyneham believe it is the right way forward.

Group Captain David Horton predicted savings to the Ministry of Defence over the next nine years of £250m.

“ If we don’t make those savings by amalgamating RAF Lyneham and RAF Brize Norton, we will have to make them somewhere else,” he said, speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire.

“That is a situation which defence and the country as a whole is in, and if we make them somewhere else there is always a risk that we could impact on a frontline operations.

“By amalgamating Lyneham and RAF Brize Norton we know we can achieve that because we have a plan that works and we know we can achieve it without impacting on frontline support that comes from both stations.

“All of us are absolutely committed to making sure that support on the front line is not impacted in any way, shape or form by this amalgamation.

“We have to do something. The amalgamation of Lyneham and Brize Norton makes sense financially, it makes sense operationally, so it is absolutely the right thing to be doing.”

Wing Commander Rob Snell said about 2,000 people would be making the 36-mile transfer to Oxfordshire by the time Lyneham officially closes on December 31, 2012.

He said that although many of the air crews, engineering and logistics teams had been at the Wiltshire base for some time, he did not believe staff would turn their back on the service because of the move.

“What’s important is that when they get to Brize Norton they recognise the opportunities presented for them there and they don’t look back and say ‘oh well, Lyneham has closed, we're not interested in being in the air force, or being civil servants or whatever, any more.”’ he said.

“Actually, they can see the opportunities which Brize Norton presents and that they want to remain with the MoD and they want to do their best for the Ministry of Defence, which is what they are doing day and day out at Lyneham.

“The fact is that Brize Norton presents great opportunities.

“It is down to us to make sure those messages are getting through so that people do understand that actually this is not a bad move at all.

“It is a very positive move and it may not be RAF Lyneham any more, but what you enjoyed at Lyneham you'll enjoy just as much, if not hopefully more, when you get to Brize Norton.”