Whenever a great institution closes it is a very sad occasion.

The closure of BAE Systems at Woodford is a matter of great regret. Our thoughts are with the workers and families affected by this ill-thought out decision. Some of the first planes ever built had their first flights here and its contribution to our defences during the last war was immense with the building of the Lancaster Bomber and in the Cold War the magnificent Vulcan.

As a councillor I have represented Woodford since 1964, first on Cheshire County Council and subsequently on Stockport and have lived in Woodford for 27 years.  Throughout that time the aerodrome has been a key feature of Woodford life.  I remember watching Vulcan’s inaugural flight there, visiting the factory and being dazzled by the magnificent air displays, in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

But it is not a time to look backward.  We must ensure that whatever replaces the site – and change will unfortunately take place – must be done with the consent of the local residents.  I shall be making sure in the next few months that those plans are both ambitious and our own ideas, not ones forced on residents by Whitehall.

As your local councillor, I will be working closely with our Parliamentary Candidate, Ben Jeffreys, who has already spoken at village meetings and with the Community Council over ideas for the site’s future.  We have some interesting suggestions but above all we want Woodford residents to shape its future.

We hope to arrange a meeting of local residents with officers of Stockport MBC to enable all to have the opportunity of commenting on proposals.

The closure of the site in 2012 was not unexpected but we must seek to provide some alternative proposals and opportunities for future employment for the skilled workforce who have worked so hard to make BAE Systems a success in Woodford.

Cllr Bryan Leck
Bramhall South

This article, by Cllr Bryan Leck, was first published by the Stockport Express on 23.09.09.