There is growing support for the idea of developing a former Angus jail into a war veteran rehabilitation centre.
Noranside open prison, near Forfar, has been suggested as the ”perfect” location for a centre to help the recovery of Scots servicemen and women maimed or injured in conflicts such as Afghanistan or Iraq.
The idea was floated by Scots Guards veteran Jim Ritchie this week (link) as the jail due to a Scottish Prison Service restructure of the open estate, and The Black Watch Association has now added its voice to the fledgling proposal.
The prison sits in the historic heartland of the Red Hackle regiment and national Black Watch Association secretary Major Ronnie Proctor said the concept is worth further investigation.
Maj Proctor, who is also Angus association chairman, said: ”Having been closely involved with men wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their families, I have seen the wonderful care these men receive at specialist facilities south of the border. But I have also seen what is involved in families travelling south to places like Selly Oak and Headley Court.
”For them it may mean the breadwinner sometimes having to take a week or more off work, and while they are always going to do that for their loved one it would be so much easier and beneficial to the victim if they were closer at hand and could maybe be visited more often.”
He added: ”From the Scottish dimension I think it would be a real asset to have a facility up here. If they are to receive the best possible rehabilitation one of the most important things is a quiet, stress-free environment and Noranside is perfectly placed to provide that.”
Maj Proctor said he was disappointed Mr Ritchie’s idea was so quickly labelled a ”non-starter” by Angus South SNP MSP Graeme Dey. He said it at least merited investigation, even if there was little prospect of the government or MoD being able to fund it.
Maj Proctor said: ”The MSP who commented is quite right that there are other facilities which provide care, but one of the factors which is important in speeding up the rehabilitation of men who have been injured and perhaps suffered injuries including the loss of limbs is to be with other servicemen and women.
”Maintaining that service ethos within the rehabilitation process is essential and Noranside is somewhere that could happen.”
He added: ”I know the MoD budgets are being cut and the medical corps is being pared back to the bone, but I do not believe that should be a reason not to at least look at the viability of this and how it might be achieved.
”There are many organisations, including several charities associated with the military, which are very good at taking up projects such as this so it may be something they would be willing to consider being part of.”
Maj Proctor said: ”I believe some form of study should be carried out to see if this is practical. Let’s give it a chance. When I read the comment about Mr Ritchie’s idea being a non-starter I thought that was negative and a bit defeatist.”
In reaction to that, Mr Dey said: ”I was not being either negative or defeatist. The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting Scotland’s veterans and I fully support the desire to have such a facility.
”But I think you have to be realistic and for a variety of reasons Noranside probably isn’t the most suitable option.”