An Angus councillor says closing the Royal Marines Arbroath base if 45 Commando are relocated would be “madness”.
Arbroath member Donald Morrison said such a move could lead to Arbroath suffering the same fate as Edzell after the Americans pulled out of the RAF base.
The closure of the US navy base at RAF Edzell cost the local community £6 million in lost business income per year and was as great a disaster for the Edzell area as the closure of Ravenscraig was to Lanarkshire.
There is an ongoing review of military bases and there has been speculation that the Royal Marines could be set to quit their Arbroath base.
It emerged the MoD could consider moving 45 Commando from Condor to Plymouth and Exmoor. Local sources have also intimated that the Arbroath base is being considered for The Black Watch.
“We have got to take every rumour seriously and get concrete assurances back from the minister,” Mr Morrison said. “Councillors have spoken to Angus MP Mike Weir and he’s sent an urgent email to the minister to get clarification and assurances.
“Outright closure would just be madness with regards to the coalition government. We have Leuchars and we have Lossiemouth which are under threat and it would be madness.
“You saw what happened to Edzell when it closed and look at Edzell now that’s what would happen to Arbroath. The marines came in the 70s after the navy so they have got to have changes at some point but we need to get clarification and assurances from the minister.
“If the marines were to go we would need to get somebody else in there. The rumour mill is that it would be The Black Watch which could actually be better for Arbroath because it’s a bigger brigade.
“Supposedly they are closing Fort George and that could be the saving grace. But it’s only rumour just now and we’ll just have to wait and see.”
If a decision is made to move the unit, which is serving in Afghanistan, it will end a relationship with RM Condor that has lasted four decades since the unit was moved there from Plymouth in 1971. The unit was originally moved to Arbroath to be closer to Norway primarily for Arctic training to allow the UK to deal with the Soviet threat.
Arbroath councillor David Fairweather said, “Rumours abound in Arbroath at the moment in the fact that if 45 Commando do leave Arbroath, they will be replaced by another battalion. By whom that would be I don’t know.
“Obviously if they were to leave and not be replaced it would affect the economy of Arbroath and I would be extremely concerned. If another battalion is coming in that would certainly be welcomed by the people of Arbroath and I would certainly accord them all the hospitality and welcome that the people of Arbroath have given and continue to give to the Royal Marines and the navy before them.
“It is worrying times but until someone comes out and says what is going to happen I will reserve judgment.”