The battle to save RAF Leuchars from closure will be tough but can still be won, the leader of Fife Council has defiantly claimed.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Peter Grant said the local authority would continue to put pressure on the Ministry of Defence in a bid to ensure the base is retained.
A dossier previously prepared by the council warned that closure would have a devastating impact on the community. It warned that the economy would take a staggering £60 million hit — and would also be left reeling by job losses totalling up to 2000.
Meanwhile, schools could be forced to close, the housing market crippled and local businesses would face a tough battle to survive.
Mr Grant knows that the outlook for one of Scotland’s RAF bases could be bleak — but insists he remains committed to fighting for the future of both RAF Leuchars and the similarly threatened base in Lossiemouth.
“There is still every possibility that Leuchars and Lossiemouth could be saved but it could be an uphill battle,” he said. “If the Ministry of Defence is, as seems certain, determined to close either Leuchars, Lossiemouth or Marham (in Norfolk), then there has to be a fair likelihood that one of the Scottish bases will go.”
Nevertheless, Mr Grant is far from throwing in the towel — and urged campaigners to fight on right until the final announcement is made.
“We must keep up the pressure on the Ministry of Defence and politicians in London,” he added. “I think we will all breathe a sigh of relief if Leuchars is kept open, but we would take absolutely no satisfaction in seeing Lossiemouth closed.
“There is a very strong case for the retention of both Scottish bases and I still very much hope that may happen.”
Last week, The Courier revealed that jets from Leuchars were involved in operations in battle-scarred Libya.
Meanwhile, campaigners from the Residents Action Force in Leuchars recently took their fight direct to 10 Downing Street. They handed over petitions containing the signatures of more than 30,000 people opposed to any closure of the Fife base.