Hopeful futures for Leuchars and Condor

Uncertainty has been a blight on Scotland’s defence estate in recent years. The brave men and women who are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf have faced anxious waits to find out where they will live when they are not undertaking tours of duty.

Meanwhile, communities are struggling to adapt to life without personnel and their families who have become woven into the very fabric of local society.

Fife has felt this particularly painfully, with the decision to move the RAF north initially leaving a gaping hole in Leuchars and the surrounding area despite the welcome arrival of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

If the Black Watch were to move back to its spiritual home at the heart of Tayside and Fife it would do much to give the area a required boost, especially given Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, today outlines his desire to see Leuchars become Scotland’s main army base.

The return of the red hackles would rightly be warmly welcomed for both emotional and practical reasons.

It is not just Fife which has received good news, of course, with reassurances also given about the future of the Royal Marines at Condor.

As a military group which has become synonymous with Arbroath, and indeed Angus as a whole, it would have been a crushing blow to see 45 Commando quit the area.

Stability is the name of the game for defence of the realm. Let’s hope that now applies to our troops and bases as well.