‘All of the cooking equipment has been stripped out and we are not allowed to cook in the kitchen. It’s like living in a flat and the landlord saying you can pay to live here - you’re not to cook but use my restaurant across the road. Wouldn’t expect this in civvy street, so why here?’


‘a microwave is not an adequate alternative to PAYD’


‘The facilities are reasonable in the kitchen. But this is due to people applying for funding – not as a direct result of it being provided initially’


Issues around inflexible hours (e.g. no opening at weekends and most evenings closing at 1800 or 2000 hrs) and staff shortages seem to be mirrored in responses about some of the ‘singly-aimed’ retail outlets – particularly on-base facilities, which are perceived to be consistently shut in favour of staff being utilised elsewhere to cover shortages - with little or no warning. Invariably, comparisons are made with other high street convenience providers. Personnel stated a lack of choice and non-competitive pricing as their rationale for not using the shops, preferring in some cases to drive or walk off station to local stores, passing the on-base shop en route. They recognise that pricing between supermarkets and convenience stores will differ – but they are vocal that the current offer at some stations does not represent value for money.


‘laughably expensive’ ‘Never open and never told why’ ‘the shop looks like a scene from a zombie apocalypse movie due to the lack of stock’


wwww.raf-ff.org.uk ww.raf-ff.org.uk


25


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