Soldiers evacuated from Army barracks over health fears

The defence secretary Penny Mordaunt has visited an Army base in Thorney Island following reports soldiers had been evacuated from their damp barracks over health fears.

Ms Mordaunt made the impromptu visit to Baker Barracks on Thorney Island on Friday to assess the state of the camp’s accommodation.

It came after the Army admitted it was forced to close one of the buildings following reports a soldier had fallen ill with a ‘damprelated’ condition.

The Portsmouth North MP’S visit was prompted by the revelation of the state of the barracks, on Thursday, by the Observer’s sister paper The News.

A spokesman for Ms Mordaunt’s office said the trip was part of her on-going work to look at Britain’s defence estate and that she was adamant ‘people must come first’.

“The quality of service accommodation for both single persons and families has been a big focus for Penny and as the new secretary of state for defence,” the spokesman said.

The base’s condition outraged SAS veteran and prominent Hampshire soldier, Phil Campion, who said: “This needs to be looked at the highest levels and sorted. Soldiers coming home from deployment shouldn’t have to be worrying about their own health here. They need somewhere to relax.’

In response, the Ministry of Defence said that a survey of the building was being carried out before action is taken to rectify it.

A spokeswoman added: “We take the safety of our personnel seriously and all soldiers in the building have been moved to alternative accommodation until the matter is resolved.”

Thorney Island is home to hundreds of soldiers from 12th Regiment and 16th Regiment Royal Artillery as well as their families.