RAF ODIHAM has been granted a welcome reprieve.

News that the helicopter base is to stay open was broken in the House of Commons on Monday by Secretary of State for Defence, Geoffrey Hoon, who revealed that the MOD had decided to retain the RAF base at its current site.

The announcement ended an 18-month long wait for the results of a Joint Helicopter Command feasibility study, commissioned in September last year to consider what savings could be made by closing one of two bases in the UK - Odiham and Dishforth in Yorkshire.

The study was part of an MOD cost-cutting exercise aimed at Òestate rationalisationÓ which looked at centralising the countryÕs helicopter force - a move which it was hoped would result in considerable savings.

According to community relations officer Flight Lieutenant Paul Smyth, the review has now concluded that Òthe cost savings would not out-weight the initial cost of developing the airfield at Yeovilton for Chinook operationÓ.

The decision has been heralded as Òextremely good newsÓ for the Royal Air Force. Based in Odiham since 1925, helicopters have operated from the site for more than 40 years, making it the UKÕs primary military helicopter base.

While it has come as a relief to the service men and women at Odiham who, after months of uncertainty know their future is now settled, it is welcome news also for the local community.

ÒAt least they now know that, while the familiar noise of the Chinook may not always be welcome, the land occupied by the base will not be redeveloped for housing or industrial use,Ó said Flt Lt Smyth.

Relieved that after 76 years RAF Odiham would remain a part of the community, chairman of Odiham Parish Council, Chris Riley, said the loss of the base would have had a major impact on local suppliers, on the schools who cater for RAF children, on local shops and services and because many of the forces personnel have bought properties in the area. It would have resulted also in a substantial loss of civilian jobs.

In addition, it made sense to retain RAF Odiham from a strategic point of view. There had been great concern expressed locally about the wisdom of the MOD in Òputting all its eggs into one basketÓ and about the £millions of investment in the base which would be wasted if it were to move.

He further doubted if in fact the site would realise the capital the MOD had been hoping for, bearing in mind the Critchell Down case where a disused military base had to revert back to its former owner for the original price paid.

As for RAF Odiham it is Òbusiness as usualÓ, with personnel being deployed around the world on various operations.

ÒWith the future secure it is hoped that improvements to the infrastructure can now continue and that this base will continue to contribute to the well being of the local community,Ó said Flt Lt Smyth.