Thursday November 25th 2021
Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has today announced that the UK Government has u-turned on the decision to close Glencorse Barracks.
Mr Wallace, updated Westinster on the details and implementation of the Army’s future capabilities, structures, and basing. He said:
“Scotland will be home to more battalions – going from six to seven units – and a greater proportion of the Army than today. We will be retaining Glencorse Barracks while growth in Kinloss and Leuchars – thanks to £355m investment in the Army estate – will deliver more than £1bn of economic benefits.”
Five years ago, the then Defence Minister Michael Fallon, announced that Glencorse was to close.
Commenting on the announcement from the Defence Secretary, Midlothian MP Owen Thompson said:-
“I am both relieved and delighted to see the UK Government u-turn on the decision to close Glencorse Barracks. It made no sense economically or strategically to close this modern army base, which not too long ago was hailed as “bench-mark accommodation” by the Ministry of Defence.
“It’s not just the loss of jobs at the Barracks, we would have lost the important links between Glencorse and the wider Penicuik community. The armed forces personnel and their families play an integral role in life in the town. To lose this would have been devastating both economically and culturally.
“I have petitioned against the decision to close Glencorse Barracks since the decision was announced. I am so glad the UK Government has finally seen sense.”
You can watch the Defence Secretary’s statement in the video below
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