Politicians proceed with caution

POLITICIANS have given a cautious welcome to the news RAF Kinloss is to become a British Army base.

The area’s MP, MSPs, opposition candidate and community council members have said they are generally pleased about the decision.

But concern has been expressed at the delay between the air force moving out and troops moving in.

Holyrood finance secretary John Swinney, who visited Forres on Thursday to meet community leaders from across Moray, was pleased with the news but said work still needed to be done to move the area away from economic dependance on defence.

“What we have agreed to do is that we will focus on developing an action plan of economic opportunities for Moray,” he said, adding that some of these will focus on green technology, tourism and food and drink.

Moray MP Angus Robertson, who is also the Scottish National Party’s defence spokesman said the news “will be welcomed locally”.

“The time gap between the closure of Kinloss as an RAF station and the posting of Army regiments will need close attention in respect of the short term economic activity and community confidence of the immediate area. I look forward to working with the partners of the Moray Economic forum to ensure that Moray, and especially Forres, has a bright and confident future.”

Richard Lochhead MSP also told the ‘Gazette’ he was pleased with the news but had some reservation. “The prospect of a new lease of life for the Kinloss base will provide a boost for the area and hope for many families,” he said.

“However, it remains the case that there will be a significant delay before any troops arrive and that will leave a big hole in the local economy. It is also the case that the number of troops and their economic value will fall well short of the RAF’s contribution so it is absolutely vital that we don’t take our foot off the gas in terms of rejuvenating the local economy. Now that we have a welcome decision on Lossiemouth, all our agencies and the community effort can increasingly focus on the future of Forres and Kinloss.”

Douglas Ross, who stood as the Conservative Party candidate at the last elections to the House of Commons and Scottish Parliament said he was pleased Defence Secretary Liam Fox had announced that he was looking into ways to accelerate the Army’s arrival in Moray.

Moray Council member for Forres Jeff Hamilton, who lives in Kinloss and worked at the air base as both a serviceman and civilian, said the decision brought up mixed emotions.

“I’ll be sorry to see what will be the end of an era when the RAF move out for the last time,” he commented. “We must be positive. Although, in my opinion, the Army, by it’s very nature will never become as integrated into the community, as the RAF, I welcome the retention of the base at Kinloss as a military base.”

However, the Scottish Green Party were not pleased with the news saying it ran “counter to the aspirations of the local communities”