Sailors face floods and maggots at ‘Collingrad’ trainee base
MILITARY personnel have lifted the lid on the “absolutely horrendous” living conditions at the Royal Navy’s largest training establishment, which they have dubbed “HMS Collingrad”.
The HMS Collingwood centre in Fareham, Hants, had problems with heating and hot water more than once a day last year. Sailors compared it to Stalingrad and said low morale had been further hit by recent flooding that forced them to cram into cabins and sleep in recreation areas.
In response to a written question from the Labour Party, Alex Chalk, the defence procurement minister, revealed there were 393 maintenance issues on heating and hot water at HMS Collingwood since last February.
The highest month for reported problems was November, when 80 complaints were made about the base.
The Daily Telegraph has already revealed that ministers are in talks to axe the housing contract for military accommodation after families were forced to spend Christmas in mouldinfested homes. That was after hundreds of Armed Forces personnel spoke out over “scandalous” living conditions endured this winter – from broken boilers to no water supply.
John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, accused the Government of “failing in their duty to our forces, who are living in shameful conditions”. He told The Telegraph: “The standard of accommodation has been low and getting worse under this Government, yet nothing’s been done.
“These conditions wouldn’t be acceptable in civilian life ... the Government must deliver homes fit for the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces.”
Sailors at HMS Collingwood have found silverfish and maggots living on fridge freezers, broken showers and radiators; blocked and overflowing lavatories; and fire alarms that sound continuously late at night. Previously, the base lost hot water and heating for several weeks leading up to Christmas.
Speaking anonymously, one sailor told Portsmouth newspaper The News: “The state of the accommodation is ridiculous. We have reported it – we have been told to get on with it. I know for a fact there are multiple complaints every week ... [sailors] have been put in overcrowded rooms; rooms for two have had six or seven ... some in mixed blocks. The worst I’ve seen would be maggots and other insects living on a fridge door.”
The Royal Navy said: “The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has confirmed it is working with contractors to fix the issues.”
It said recent flooding was caused by “excessive rain” not maintenance issues and added: “A number of recruits were moved as a precaution but have since returned to their accommodation which was unaffected, all within 24 hours.”