The provost of Angus has said she would be 100% behind the county playing a pivotal role in the nation’s ”moral duty” towards the care of its injured servicemen and women.
As support continues to grow for the idea of the former Noranside open prison near Forfar being considered as the possible site for a rehabilitation centre to care for recovering military personnel, Ruth Leslie Melville said she could think of no more worthwhile use for the facility.
Noranside was officially closed by the Scottish Prison Service a week ago, with prisoners moving to Castle Huntly, near Dundee. The future for the former Angus jail is uncertain and it may be put on the market.
As the key was turning to close Noranside, Scots Guards veteran Jim Ritchie floated an idea that the former tuberculosis hospital could fulfil a role in the rehabilitation of 21st century victims of conflict.
Despite doubts over the probability of either Government or Ministry of Defence cash being available for such a project, supporters have said that should not stop the feasibility of the scheme being examined.
Angus Black Watch Association chairman Major Ronnie Proctor called for an options study on the jail’s potential and Provost Leslie Melville has now echoed the feeling that such a move would be worth pursuing as a first step.
”I am 100% behind the idea of it being used to look after our servicemen and women I think it would be a wonderful use of the property,” Mrs Leslie Melville said.
”I have had close links with Noranside through my involvement in the voluntary sector, and I lived virtually next door to the prison for just shy of 20 years.
”In all that time the fact that there was a jail so close by was never a problem and I am quite sure that the local population would be thrilled at the prospect of a facility, such as that which Mr Ritchie has suggested, being developed there.
”Like others, I realise that times are hard and it would be very difficult to get the money together, but you have to look at how these sort of things can be achieved and I cannot think why anyone would want to just dismiss the idea straight away.
”I think our service people deserve all the support we can possibly give them. We should remember that Noranside was once a sanatorium and a use such as this would be a case of taking it back to the future.”
Mrs Leslie Melville added: ”I would commit to working with whoever if there were people around prepared to put their backs into this idea.
”At this stage we are talking about an idea and clearly I am speaking as myself. It would have to be looked at very carefully, but I am sure that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
”If we are serious in our commitment to helping these people who are our sons and daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters the very least we can do is look at how we might be able to fulfil this moral duty.”