A petition has been launched this week calling for MoD Caledonia to be given as a gift to Rosyth.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman and local councillor Sharon Wilson believe the local community should benefit following the Ministry of Defence’s planned closure of the base in 2022.
The campus has various recreational facilities, including a 25 metre swimming pool and gymnasium, and is home to various cadet groups.
After lengthy negotiations, Fife Council has already bought Caledonia’s Fleet Grounds from the MoD.
Now Mr Chapman has said: “If the UK Government were to gift the whole Caley site to our community, I believe this act would appropriately celebrate and commemorate the valuable relationship that has existed between the Royal Navy and Rosyth over the past century.
“I remember when the larger Naval Base closed some years ago, Rosyth was then left in limbo for more than a decade.
“We cannot allow this to happen again and we need to see a planned and measured handover of assets which the community could use positively.”
Mr Chapman last week described the announcement by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon to close the base as “an historic mistake”.
It will coincide with the completion date of the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier and was condemned as a “kick in the teeth” for workers.
The SNP MP added: “I have already asked for a meeting with the minister responsible and I hope we will see evidence of the UK’s broad shoulders in making this gesture to the people of Rosyth who have supported the navy through thick and thin.”
Ms Wilson said: “The petition calls upon the UK Government to gift the Rosyth community the facilities and land of MoD Caledonia upon its closure.
“The campus, medical and leisure facilities would be a huge gain for our community and represents a befitting legacy from which our community would benefit.
“I would encourage residents from Rosyth and from the wider Dunfermline and west Fife community to sign the petition to show the strength of feeling and to help us make this happen.”
The petition, Gift HMS Caley to the Community, has already attracted around 100 signatures and can be found at www.change.org.
