8 Scottish military bases to be axed by MoD
Brutal cuts will be huge blow to the country, says Swinney
A MASSIVE overhaul of the Armed Forces in Scotland will see eight military sites being completely shut down by 2032, it was confirmed yesterday.
Historic Fort George, near Inverness, currently home to the Black Watch, is among those that will close.
But seven other sites – many of them vital parts of their local community – will also be sold.
These include Forthside Barracks in Stirling, Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh, Condor Airfield in Arbroath, Angus, and Glencorse Barracks in Penicuik, Midlothian. MoD Caledonia in Rosyth will also close, marking the demise of the Royal Navy’s historic presence in Fife, and Craigiehall, near Edinburgh, will shut.
The radical changes will result in Scotland’s defence estate being cut by 20 per cent.
It could have a devastating impact on the areas affected – damaging the local economies and resulting in a big fall in the number of pupils attending nearby schools.
The Public and Commercial Services union said the cuts will hit the support available to the Armed Forces and affect thousands of UK staff.
Across the UK, 91 sites will go, resulting in a £140million
saving over the next ten years, rising to £3billion by 2040, to be reinvested in defence.
The Ministry of Defence insists the changes will not impact on overall military numbers in Scotland – which currently has 22 military facilities – and will mean more staff are based in ‘21st century’ buildings.
But Deputy First Minister John Swinney described the cuts as ‘brutal’.
He said: ‘Today’s announcement is a huge blow for the country.
‘Our defence footprint has been worn away through successive cuts, so it is unacceptable that the UK Government has announced a near 20 per cent reduction to our defence footprint.
‘This comes just three years after the last Army Basing Plan, billed as offering stability and certainty.
‘These brutal cuts spell the near total removal of the Army from large parts of Scotland and the end of the Royal Navy’s presence in Fife.
‘It is deeply distressing to witness the announcement to close truly historic sites, such as Glencorse, home to the Army for almost 150 years, and Fort George, a garrison for almost 250 years.’
He added: ‘These cuts will have far-reach- ing economic and social impacts, placing jobs at risk, both directly and indirectly.’
Craigiehall in Edinburgh will be the first closure, in 2018, to be followed by Arbroath’s Condor Airfield, in 2020, then Forthside in Stirling, MoD Caledonia in Rosyth and Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh, all in 2022.
The final sites to be sold off will be Fort George, near Inverness, and Glencorse Barracks, in Penicuik, both in 2032.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon told MPs that military bases would instead be at ‘fewer, better locations’ in Scotland.
He said: ‘In Scotland this strategy will result in investment being concentrated into fewer, better locations. Our proposals will release eight sites over the next 15 years. We will invest in main centres of specialisation.’
Major General Alastair Dickinson, director of Army basing and infrastructure, said Scotland’s defence estate would be ‘consolidated into three primary hubs’ – the Clyde Naval Base, RAF Lossiemouth and Leuchars Station.
He said: ‘The Armed Forces in Scotland have a strong connection with local communities. The overall aim is to focus investment in infrastructure into key sites in Scotland, thereby consolidating military capability to provide better accommodation and employment opportunities for defence personnel and their families.’
There are currently 4,000 Army troops in Scotland – and Major General Dickinson said the numbers will not change by the end of the process in 2040. The Royal Navy expects 400 extra personnel at Lossiemouth by 2024.
Asked about the closure of the Black Watch’s ancestral base at Fort George, he said: ‘The closure of a base like Fort George is incredibly sad. However, our soldiers are 21st century soldiers – they deserve 21st century equipment, they deserve 21st century training, they also deserve 21st century accommodation. With the best will in the world, Fort George is a listed building. It is not economically viable to transfer that building into 21st century accommodation.’
The future of RAF Kinloss, in Moray, was guaranteed yesterday, despite SNP claims it could face the axe. Tory Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross said: ‘This is great news for Kinloss and for Moray. People have understandably been worried, but the only person whipping up rumours was the SNP’s Angus Robertson – because while the UK Government was going through a proper process that’s delivered the right answer, he saw the chance for a few cheap headlines.
‘He assured local people he had an impeccable source that said the Army were to be removed and the base closed. Local people were worried and a task force was set up but this could have all been avoided had it not been for the Moray MP’s attempts to make political capital where there was none.’
‘Aim is to focus investment’