The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Closing Fort George would be slap in the face, PM told
Military: Nationalist MP warns Theresa May over potential fallout
The prime minister has been warned that closing the barracks at FortGeorge would be a “betrayal of the BlackWatch” and a “slap in the face” to the Highlands.
SNP MP Drew Hendry raised the issue in the House of Commons yesterday after a Highland delegation held talks with military chiefs earlier in the week.
A decision on Fort George’s future is expected before theendof the year as the Ministry of Defence movesto slash the size of its estate.
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson, who attended the meeting in London with the MP, said they had received no assurances from Defence Minister Mark Lancaster.
But she emerged more hopeful than before, after spelling out the dire consequences of its closure, including the loss of 750 jobs and £16million from the economy.
Yesterday Mr Hendry, who represents Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, seized his chance to press Mrs May.
Speakingin thechamber, he asked: “Do you agree that any move to close the historic barracks at Fort George would not only be a poor military decision after 250 years of service but a betrayal of the BlackWatch and a slap in the face to the Highlands?”
TheTory leader said: “No decisions on FortGeorge or other locations have been taken.”
At the meeting, Mr Lancaster, who was temporarily based at Fort George while serving in the Royal Engineers, was handed a dossier of evidence to support the case. This included coverage of the Press and Journal’s F i g h t For For t George campaign, backed by about 6,000 people since we revealed it had been earmarked for closure in June.
Dozens of ex-service personnel and their families have joined the battle, as well as actor Hugh Grant, whose grandfather was a commander at the site.
Highland MSP Maree Todd also raised the future of Kinloss Barracks at the talks, amid fears theMoray base is too being considered for the axe.
“A betrayal of the BlackWatch and a slap in the face to the Highlands”