A war of words has broken out between local politicians, with the battle-lines drawn over the disused airfield at Arbroath’s RM Condor military base.
Following revelations from a leaked document suggesting the land could be used for up to 2,500 homes, one Angus MP has accused a political rival of causing “unnecessary distress” with his “scaremongering”.
Angus South MSP Graeme Dey has raised early concerns over the transfer of the land, which is thought to include specialist vehicle storage units, urban warfare training facilities, as well as woodland which is still under separate lease.
Mr Dey has argued that the proposal “made no sense” claiming that drastically reducing the military footprint of the base would have practical and significant financial implications for the Marines and the MOD, and could cast a dark shadow on Condor’s future.
Conservative MP for Angus Kirstene Hair hit back, saying: “I know members of the armed forces in Angus will be disappointed by scaremongering from SNP politicians using the base as a means of furthering their own political ends.
“Earlier this month, I visited the Royal Marines of 45 Commando, and I was pleased to discuss recent assurances from the Secretary of State for Defence, that RM Condor will continue to form an integral part of our defence capability.
“I was surprised to read the comments made yesterday by Graeme Dey MSP as it is publicly known there are discussions about whether part of the airfield currently owned by the MOD could be put to good use by Angus Council.
“I continue to be involved in those discussions to ensure 45 Commando have the facilities they require at the base.
“These unfounded scare stories from irresponsible politicians only succeed in causing unnecessary distress to brave service personnel and their families.
“Each time this closure untruth raises its head, I seek to reassure the base personnel immediately after the distress generated by false SNP claims.
“It is becoming tiresome and they must start to learn that people come before politics.”
In a leaked memo from a secret meeting at Holyrood in December, Lord Duncan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, had pledged that the land at Condor would be decontaminated and returned in usable condition to the council at no cost.
Doubt was cast on this commitment at general questions in the Scottish Parliament Thursday. Responding to a question from Bruce Crawford MSP, Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary, Economy, Jobs and Fair Work said: “explicit commitment was given by Lord Duncan of the UK Government that MOD land would be transferred at no cost—additional to the city deal — and decontaminated.
“I do not think that that commitment still holds. Perhaps Bruce Crawford and other members with an interest in the issue might want to ask the UK Government whether it intends to see through that commitment, in terms of both the Stirling deal and the Tay cities deal.”
