By Ralph Barnett

Concerns over the future of 45 Commando based at RM Condor at Arbroath were eased yesterday when Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said the unit would not be affected by changes.

Questions had been raised over the future of the Angus base since a review of MoD estates was announced by the Government.

However, in a letter to local MPs and MSPs, Mr Ingram, said, “There are not any proposals currently under consideration that will affect the continued basing of 45 Commando RM or the Royal Artillery unit at Royal Marines Condor.”

Mr Ingram also states that in relation to the RM Condor Volunteer Glider School, the future of which is being considered under the separate Defence Airfield Review, no decision has yet been taken.

Although Mr Ingram said there was still some work to be carried out in that review, the future of 45 Commando was no longer an issue.

The letters were sent to the MP and MSP for Angus, Mike Weir and Andrew Welsh, and to regional MSP Alex Johnstone.

A spokesman for the base said, “This will delight the local community which has backed 45 Commando from the beginning.

“We have real roots here and a very strong affiliation with the town.

“There are families and friends here which go back generations and everyone will be delighted to know that 45 Commando is staying put and that RM Condor will remain a feature of life in Arbroath.”

Mr Weir said, “I am pleased that this seems to be an indication that there is no immediate threat to RM Condor.

“The base plays an important role in the economy of Arbroath and Angus as a whole and any threat would result in a severe blow to the town.

“I am pleased that the Ministry of Defence has sat up and listened to the representations made by myself and Angus Council.

“Obviously I will be keeping a close eye on the situation since the base is still not entirely out of the woods, although this assurance from the armed forces minister is clearly an encouraging sign.”

Mr Johnstone said, “I am prepared to give this news a welcome and know that service personnel and local residents alike in the Arbroath area will be relieved that the MoD has decided not to go down the path of closing or rationalising RM Condor.”

Angus Council chief executive Sandy Watson received a letter from the MoD apologising for the delay in responding to communications sent to the department in September last year and January this year seeking clarification of the Condor situation.

The council had pressed the MoD for news, saying it needed to know if the “worst case” scenario of the base closing down and the men of 45 Commando moving elsewhere was likely.

However, the council has been given similar assurances to those received by Mr Weir, Mr Welsh and Mr Johnstone.

The MoD has also asked Mr Watson if the information the council requested regarding base staffing levels, estimates of the workforce’s spending power and assessments of how any changes at the base would affect local businesses which supply RM Condor with goods and services was still required.

Mr Watson has advised councillors that he feels the information is still required, and said, “Whenever there is speculation about the future of RM Condor there is a public expectation that the council is in possession of the relevant facts and figures, but this is not the case.

“I will, therefore, respond to the MoD by asking for the information and requesting involvement in the Defence Airfield Study.”

45 Commando is one of three units providing the cutting edge to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines.

It is trained and equipped for a wide range of operational tasks and regularly deploys to the most taxing of environments.

The unit was the first to specialise in the mountain and cold-weather warfare role during the early 1970s.