SNP MP calls for guarantees on army housing as Leuchars Station expands.

leuchars: Higher standards urged for service personnel and their families

The defence secretary is under pressure to improve facilities at Leuchars Station after families complained of poor housing conditions.

Sir Michael Fallon says he wants to put the Fife base at the heart of the army’s operations in Scotland.

Stephen Gethins, the North East Fife MP, has written to the secretary of state to demand a guarantee that accommodation will be of a higher standard as the military station expands.

The MOD said it is investing in improvements at Leuchars as part of a £660 million housing programme across the UK Armed Forces.

“With even more service personnel and their families expected to arrive in the area, can you confirm that plans are now in place to ensure modern, high quality, affordable accommodation will be available for these families?” the SNP MP wrote.

“And that access to other family-friendly facilities and employment opportunities for spouses will be considered as to ensure people moving into the area feel welcome and that the contribution their family is making to the defence capability is valued?”

The Leuchars base, which was in RAF hands until 2015, is home to service personnel from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and 2 Close Support Battalion REM, as well as military police.

It is hoped other units will be transferred to the Fife site, including the return of The Black Watch to its spiritual home.

An expanded base is poised to bring economic benefits to the local community, as well as to Dundee, its nearest city.

Mr Gethins said he has been contacted by military families in his constituency raising concerns about poor quality accommodation and the struggle to get the most basic repairs carried out.

A spokesman for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which is part of the Ministry of Defence, said it is spending £660m over the next six years to improve housing for the armed forces and their families.

“We are investing in service family accommodation at Leuchars to improve the condition and quality of properties, including the installation of 100 new boilers, as well as other refurbishment and conversion works,” the spokesman added.

Can you confirm that plans are now in place to ensure modern, high quality, affordable accommodation will be available to these families? MP STEVEN GETHINS

Picture: Steven Brown. MP Stephen Gethins at Leuchars Station where the condition of the housing has come into question.