Police expected £4m for RAF Scampton asylum center security, but Labour scrapped the plan, leaving a huge funding gap.
The Labour government stopped those plans last September. Now, the police will get much less money; they will only receive £136,000.
Mr. Jones is not happy about this decision. He believed they had a solid agreement and feels the government broke its promise. The police spent money on the failed project; the Home Office should pay the bills, he stated. It had cost them £60 million.
The missing money could have saved services. Residents will now miss out on £4 million, a decision Jones regrets. The money would have helped the police, as they planned to hire more officers and invest in better digital tools.
Jones received the letter on February 7. At the same time, the police had important financial meetings and need to find £14 million in funding. Without more money, they will need to make cuts. The Home Office was contacted for their response.
The old airbase was near Lincoln. The previous government wanted to house asylum seekers there while they waited. Locals strongly opposed this plan. The project also faced many setbacks and was delayed many times.
The Labour government finally canceled it. They removed buildings from the runway, but no one ever used them. The council now wants to buy the site. They plan a £300 million project that could help tourism and business.