A taskforce formed to address the impact of the UK Government’s defence review on Fife has held its first meeting and called for clarity on the number of soldiers likely to move to the region.
Fife’s Defence Transition Task Force has been set up to manage the economic, social and community impacts as the RAF prepares to leave Leuchars and army units prepare to move in, with a further army unit also set to be based at HMS Caledonia at Rosyth as part of a multi-role brigade structure for Scotland.
With uncertainty over the exact numbers of troops set to be deployed to Fife, and when, the group has asked ministers for answers as soon as possible.
Taskforce chairman and Fife Council leader Peter Grant described the first meeting as ”very positive”.
But he added: ”The one thing that was very clear was there is a great deal of concern and anger at the fact the overall army personnel numbers seem to have changed and this is creating considerable anxiety around Leuchars and Rosyth.
”If those numbers come down, does that mean that the army bases are going to happen? We’ve tried to get clarity on that and the answers that we’ve got so far certainly haven’t reassured anybody.”
The meeting came following reports senior RAF figures are urging Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to reconsider the decision to close Leuchars as an air base, amid concerns basing Typhoon squadrons in Lossiemouth could damage the UK’s rapid reaction capability.
Uncertainty has also been caused by Lib Dem armed forces minister Nick Harvey, who appeared to suggest any deployment at Leuchars was still subject to an army review on how it plans to cut 18,000 soldiers.
Mr Grant said he will write to Mr Hammond to seek clarification and will report back to the task force, which is expected to meet every two or three months.