STAFF at RAF Benson today welcomed the news that the future of the helicopter base near Wallingford is secure.

The base’s future has been under review for a number of years, but an announcement last year that 600 staff from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland would transfer to RAF Benson, along with more Puma helicopters, suggested its future was safe.

Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said today there would be “no change” in the current arrangements for Puma and Merlin helicopters based at RAF Benson.

Mr Ainsworth also confirmed that Hercules transport aircraft would move from RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, to RAF Brize Norton, in west Oxfordshire, as RAF Lyneham is due to close at the end of 2012.

Personnel from RAF Aldergrove will move to RAF Benson at the end of this year.

Nikki Hamilton, a spokesman for RAF Benson, said: “We are all very pleased with the announcement, which removes uncertainty for our personnel and allows us to plan for the future.”

Before the announcement, RAF Benson station commander Gp Capt Jonathan Burr said: “If it is decided that RAF Benson will remain operational and has a long-term future as the base for the Puma and Merlin support helicopters, I will be very keen to see some significant investment in the ageing estate.

“In particular, I would like to see improvements to the housing stock and accommodation for our service personnel and their families.

“Additionally, we can continue to build on the strong relations that we enjoy with our local community partners, working together for our mutual long-term futures.

“Finally, in the shorter term, I can confirm that 230 Squadron will move from Northern Ireland into RAF Benson at the end of the year and that our Merlin squadrons will shortly move out of Iraq and deploy to Afghanistan, after a reset period, in late 2009."

There are 1,700 RAF personnel at Benson and with their families there are 3,200 people living at the base.

RAF Benson is a major component of the Joint Helicopter Command, housing 33 Squadron with Pumas and 28 and 78 Squadrons, flying Merlins.

Also at Benson is 606 (Chiltern) Squadron, of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, which provides support to the helicopter unit.

Last month, hundreds of people lined the streets of Wallingford to watch about personnel from RAF Benson march through the town to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the opening of the base.

RAF Benson was granted the freedom of the borough in 1957, but it was first time personnel had exercised the right to parade through the town for more than eight years.

Construction work began on RAF Benson in 1937, and the first aircraft to arrive were two squadrons of Fairey Battle light bombers on April 3, 1939.