Village economy ‘dead’ since RAF left

Upgrading Leuchars to Scotland’s main army base could help revitalise the village’s “dead” economy, according to a local businessman.

Fred Stuart has previously told of his struggle to keep his pub, the Commercial Arms, going in the current financial climate.

He welcomed any potential increase in the number of people living locally, as would be the case through service personnel and their families if the base was to be upgraded.

Mr Stuart said: “Right at the beginning, when they decided to pull the RAF out, the Ministry of Defence led us to believe there would be no change in the structure of the village. “That was complete rubbish “The army is not like the RAF. They don’t spend the same money. Anything that can be done to bring more people in would be welcome.

“It’s dead at the weekend here.

“All it is is a waiting game. We have to bide our time and wait for the good times to come back.

“Anything that could bring people into the village would be welcome.”

Mr Stuart has previously described how business in the village had dropped since the RAF started leaving the Leuchars base.