Plans to move army troops into MoD Caledonia at Rosyth have been scrapped under the UK Government’s military basing review.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond last night outlined his vision for the return of British soldiers from Germany but was accused of “betraying communities” by the SNP.
He confirmed the total number of troops in Scotland will be 4,000, a reduction from the 6,500 promised in the previous basing review in 2011.
The plans will see an additional 800 army personnel based north of the border, which Mr Hammond claimed meant the country would have “a little bit more than its fair share” based on population size.
Scotland’s army HQ will be at Redford in Edinburgh and the historic Royal Scots Borderers are to be pulled out of the country and moved to Belfast, but the raft of changes will also have a major impact across Tayside and Fife.
The Forthside Barracks in Stirling is to be sold by the MoD and the Leuchars base in Fife will house around 1,100 troops and 50 RAF personnel.
Meanwhile, 45 Commando’s future at the RM Condor base, near Arbroath, has been secured “for the foreseeable future.”
MoD Caledonia formerly HMS Caledonia at Rosyth will remain open to support the building of aircraft carriers and other uses by the Royal Navy, cadets and navy and marine reserves.
The base for The Black Watch, which recruits from Tayside and Fife, will remain at Fort George, near Inverness.
For extensive coverage of the announcement, and the reaction, see Wednesday’s Courier or try our new digital edition.