Questions remain over delayed Air Cadets building reopening

Members of Melksham’s Air Cadets squadron have been left without a permanent base for more than 18 months as delays to refurbishment works continue. 

The 2385 Air Cadets Squadron building on Lancaster Road closed in February 2025 following a safety report and was due to undergo remedial works.

The Ministry of Defence previously told Melksham News that the works were expected to be completed in August this year. However, a person connected with the squadron, who did not wish to be named, said they had now been told the reopening was likely to be delayed until September or October.

They said work had started at the site in May but had since stopped, with the same contractor now carrying out refurbishment works at the Army Cadets building on Ruskin Avenue. They added that volunteers, parents and cadets were frustrated at how long the works were taking.

The resident said, “If it reopens in the autumn, it will have been nearly two years since that building has been shut. Many of our air cadets are still leaving.”

Following the closure of the squadron’s building, members had been travelling to Bradford-on-Avon for their weekly meetings. They were then given permission to use the Army Cadets building, but this has also now closed for works, meaning the squadron has returned to meeting in Bradford-on-Avon.

The resident said the arrangement was ‘impractical’ for a squadron which previously had around 60 members.

“Bradford-on-Avon is not big enough for the squadron and there is no real transport over there. There is some transport but it is only enough for 15 and there are about 35 of them. It seems a very strange decision to shut both of them.”

The resident said members were continuing to pay fees of around £10 a month despite being unable to use their usual facilities and equipment.

They said, “Even this seems excessive for a group of young people who have been severely let down by whoever is ultimately responsible for the unacceptable delays in the refurbishment of the building.”

The resident also raised concerns about the impact the closure has had on recruitment and retention, saying some cadets had left because of the lack of a local base.

The Ministry of Defence was asked for an update on when the building would reopen and the reason for the delays, but had not responded at the time of going to press.