5 months ago
37
As a member of the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, the UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities have been consistently supportive of recent actions at the US air base to oppose the reintroduction of American nuclear weapons to Britain and are proud to endorse and promote the forthcoming march to, and camp at, Lakenheath in Suffolk.
LAP https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/ is a ‘coalition of groups that is dedicated to preventing the return of US Nuclear weapons to USAF Lakenheath’. The NFLAs became one of the first member organisations. LAP is organising a two-day march from Norwich to Lakenheath from 13 to 15 July, followed by a camp onsite until 25 July.
Although notionally an RAF station, Lakenheath is really the largest US airbase in the UK hosting the 48th ‘Liberty’ Fighter Wing of around 6,000 personnel and F-15C/D Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, and F-35A Lightning II fighter bomber aircraft.
From 1954 until 2008, the station accommodated air-dropped and -launched nuclear weapons in its inventor. The Federation of American Scientists revealed that the United States Air Force has secured funding for a 144-capacity dormitory at Lakenheath to support a ‘surety’ mission, an military euphemism for an operation to store, deploy, and potentially use, the newest version of the B-61 glide bomb on nuclear capable F-35A fighter-bombers. Budgetary justification documents state that the accommodation is needed for ‘the influx of airmen due to the arrival of the potential Surety mission and the bed down of the two F-35 squadrons. Construction is expected to last from June 2024 to February 2026’.[i]
The NFLA will be sending the organisers a message of solidarity and support.
Notes for prospective marchers and campers
The organisers are Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, NOT the NFLAs.
Marchers / campers are asked to register for the march and camp on the LAP website to be added to the mailing list:
https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/sign-up/
Participants are asked to read and commit to the non-violence guidelines:
https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/front-page/about-us/nonviolence-guidelines/
And are urged to bring your BANNERS, PLACARDS, FLAGS and MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, and to volunteer if they can give a performance of music, poetry, or theatre as the organisers ‘want to give a strong message – and have fun too!’
Registered marchers will be able to access basic accommodation and an evening meal on Friday 12th July.
Day 1, Saturday 13th July
Walking from Norwich to Wymondham via Cringleford and Hethersett (10 miles)
We will gather outside City Hall in the centre of Norwich (NR2 1NN) at 9.30am for a rally and a 10.00am start. The route takes us along good pavements through well populated communities to Hethersett where we stop for a lunch break around midday, and on to Wymondham, for a rally at Wymondham Cross in the town centre about 5pm.
Accommodation: camping in a private garden in Wymondham or in accommodation offered by friends of LAP in and around Norwich. There is also indoor accommodation for 15 people and plenty of space to camp at a cottage near Brandon. Contact Lesley Grahame at: lesley.grahame@norwichgreenparty.org.uk
Day 2, Sunday, 14th July
Travelling from Wymondham via Thetford or Brandon.
We will travel to Thetford by train, bus, or in LAP friends’ cars, for a rally at Thetford Market Place from 12 – 2pm.
Accommodation: There is indoor accommodation for 15 people and plenty of space to camp at a cottage near Brandon. Contact Lesley Grahame at: lesley.grahame@norwichgreenparty.org.uk
Day 3, Monday 15th July
Walking from Brandon to the LAP Peace Camp at the Lakenheath Main Gate
Walkers will assemble at 11.00 in Brandon Market Place to walk together to the Peace Camp at the Lakenheath Base Main Gate (5.8 miles). When we arrive at the Main Gate, we will then set up camp for the week from Monday 15th July – Thursday 25th July. The official address of the base is: Brandon Road, Brandon, IP27 9PN, England. It is located 25 miles NE of Cambridge, 70 miles north of London and just over 50 miles SW of Norwich.
Accommodation: During the period from 15th – 25th July, please book your camping and camper van pitches in the area round Lakenheath Air Base as soon as possible. Two local campsites are the Willows www.thewillowscampsite.co.uk and Trelander www.trelandercampingandcaravanning.co.uk.
The cottage accommodation for 15 people and camping space near Brandon is available until July 19th. Contact Lesley Grahame at: lesley.grahame@norwichgreenparty.org.uk.
The Walk and camp details: are on the website with a simplified map of the route https://lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/category/walk-and-camp-details/
[i] https://fas.org/publication/lakenheath-air-base-added-to-nuclear-weapons-storage-site-upgrades/
