South Uist rocket range gets visit

Friday, September 11, 2009

The defence select committee is putting pressure on the Ministry of Defence about its plans to make dramatic reductions at the South Uist rocket range in the Western Isles of Scotland. Rocket trials would run instead from Aberporth in Wales using new technology.

The MoD is planning to cut around 125 jobs; the exact figure will be confirmed later this month by defence minister Quentin Davies.

The aim is to close the command and control centre on South Uist, close one of the accommodation blocks at the West Camp army base at Balivanich, Benbecula , and to operate the radar station on Hirta remotely.

Conservative MP Salisbury Robert Key is to visit the range and discuss the issue with the MoD and the range operator QinetiQ.

Western Isles Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil said: "This is really a warning shot to the defence minister that if he does axe the jobs, the defence select committee will still maintain an interest in what is going on and there are a number of questions around the haste with which the decision has been made."