MoD depot 'closure brought forward'

A CAMPAIGN to retain Longtown’s high-security ammunition and explosives depot stepped up a gear.

The move comes only days after Ministry of Defence officials met with trade unions to break the news the site is set to close by 2014 – two years earlier than anticipated.

And although defence secretary Philip Hammond will have the final say, with a decision expected this summer, staff have been told the buildings on the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency site no longer comply with health and safety standards.

Luis Eckersley, of the Prospect Union, met with members of Cumbria County Council yesterday to brief them on the situation – which would result in the loss of 300 highly skilled jobs.

He said: “We have decided we can’t wait until the recommendations come out to respond as we feel the impact to the south of Scotland and Cumbria will be major.

“It was a shock to us as in the space of two to three months they have pulled forward the date by two years.”

Meanwhile, Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell has joined forces with Cumbrian MPs Rory Stewart and John Stevenson to demand a re-think of the closure.

Mr Mundell said: “The big issue is whether there should be a closure at all, but I remain of the view that there’s a strong case for retaining Longtown.

“I don’t believe it’s the right strategic decision to close Longtown as I believe it is cost effective, and the impact of any closure would be very significant in the area and must be taken into account.”

Meanwhile, an MoD spokesman said they were still ‘seeking to provide a solution to the withdrawal of explosive licences from DM Longtown in 2014’.

He added: “A decision about the future of Longtown is expected to be taken later this year and there will be a full consultation as part of the decision-making process.

“The UK is reducing its defence footprint as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review and we need to make the most effective use of our munitions storage facilities.

“To bring the Longtown site up to the appropriate standards would require a significant capital investment and the case for the future rests on the total balance of investment and utility.”





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