Campaigners battling for the future of RAF Leuchars will travel to Bute House in Edinburgh today, where they will have a meeting with First Minister Alex Salmond.
The Courier understands the “economic and community arguments” in support of the base will be at the top of the agenda.
It is being seen as a hugely important meeting by members of the Residents’ Action Force Leuchars as it is the first opportunity they have had to meet Mr Salmond since his party swept back into office with an overall parliamentary majority in the Scottish elections three weeks ago.
Campaigners fighting for the future of RAF Lossiemouth in Moray will also attend today’s talks. Both bases are under threat as the UK Government looks to make swingeing cuts to its defence budget.
Carroll Finnie is vice-chairwoman of the residents’ action force in Leuchars and a leading light in the campaign to save the base. She hopes the meeting will reinforce the SNP’s “strong support” for both of Scotland’s RAF bases.
She said, “Basically the message members will be taking to Bute House is that RAF Leuchars is absolutely the right facility, doing the right job at the right time.
“We recently had a meeting with Rod Campbell (newly-elected SNP MSP for North East Fife) and he was very encouraging. He said we had the support of all the MSPs, and hopefully that is something which will be evident at the meeting.”Compelling messageWith much of the Scottish Parliament behind the campaign, Ms Finnie hopes Mr Salmond will help deliver a “compelling message” to Westminster.
She said, “We have now been told that a decision will be made before the end of July. People had complained about it taking so long, but I think it is better to make the right decision than simply a quick decision.
“The strong support of Alex Salmond will really help to send a compelling message to the UK Government that Scotland needs RAF bases in both Leuchars and Lossiemouth.”
Previous assessments have warned the closure of RAF Leuchars would have a devastating impact on both Fife’s economy and the wider community.
Fife Council has predicted closure of the base will cost the local economy £60 million.
Meanwhile, some 2000 jobs could be lost, schools will be forced to close and the housing market will be dealt a crippling blow.