Claims there will be no “gap” between the RAF withdrawing and the Army arriving at Leuchars have been challenged by North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell.
Mr Campbell who has received an apology from the Ministry of Defence for not being informed in advance of Defence Secretary Philip Hammond’s visit to RAF Leuchars last Thursday said he remained concerned about the impact on local services when the RAF start to withdraw before the Army arrive.
Mr Campbell said: “I remain unrepentant. The RAF has been in the right place at the right time and doing the right job for as long as it has been based at Leuchars.
“We may have lost the decision but there is no doubt that we have won the argument. The crucial question now for the local community is the timing and efficiency of the handover from the RAF to the army.
“The Army numbers now proposed fall a long way short of the present complement from the Royal Air Force. In these circumstances, it is all the more important that there should be the minimum impact on the local economy.
“Residents of the surrounding area will have to get used to the idea that there will be much more vehicular activity in and around the base compared to the RAF.
“It may well be necessary for the road network immediately adjacent to the base to be reconfigured but inevitably there would be disruption and extra cost while that was being carried out.”
He added: “Fife Council finds itself in an invidious position in which it has to ensure that there is proper provision at all times for these services but has to do so within its budgets. Any time lag between the departure of the RAF and the arrival of all of the Army units promised could make the task of Fife Council complicated and difficult.”
Meanwhile, the vice-chairman of Leuchars Community Council, Mark Sharp, has described as “laughable” Mr Hammond’s claims the impact on the Fife economy should be “broadly neutral”.
Mr Sharp said: “The arrogance and ignorance of some politicians never ceases to amaze me.
“A prime example is the recent visit to RAF Leuchars by the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond. Why were the community council not invited?.
“It is ironic that he (Philip Hammond) tried to offer assurances to the local communities without actually meeting any of the representatives of those local communities. I guess he would have had to have answered tough questions and been put on the spot.”
An MoD spokesman said: “The Defence Secretary visited RAF Leuchars for an hour last Thursday afternoon to meet personnel.
“Ahead of the transition to an Army base and an investment of £60 million locally in new accommodation and infrastructure, Mr Hammond was pleased to have the opportunity to speak to servicemen and woman affected.”