Leuchars should become Scotland’s army hub and The Black Watch should be brought “home”, according to defence experts and politicians.
The former RAF base, now home to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, is expected to expand over the next 15 years to accommodate units from Forthside Stirling and DSG Stirling.
It has also been speculated that other regiments may also be relocated to Fife as part of the UK Government’s review of defence bases across the country.
This will see eight military bases in Scotland close over the next 15 years, including MoD Caledonia, spelling the end for the navy’s presence locally.
Condor Airfield, part of the Royal Marines base in Angus, will also be sold.
It has been argued, however, that these changes could prove beneficial to north-east Fife if Leuchars is transformed into the main home for the army north of the border.
Ronnie Proctor, an Angus councillor and former Black Watch major, said bringing the 3 Scots back to their traditional heartland would go down well – and would have historical significance.
He said: “The Black Watch and the Scots Dragoon Guards charged together for quite a long time over the campaigns of the Napoleonic wars, the Crimean wars and the Second World War.
“There is quite a lot of history between the two regiments.
“I think a lot of the troops would be quite happy to be in Leuchars. I would say the sensible thing would be to base the Highland Fusiliers at Faslane, as they recruit from the Glasgow area, and have Black Watch at Leuchars as they recruit from Tayside and Fife.”
Both north-east Fife’s MP and MSP have backed the call as well, despite hailing from different parties.
Willie Rennie, the Liberal Democrat leader at Holyrood, said expansion “would create a welcome boost to Fife”.
He added: “Recently I called on the Black Watch HQ to return to Leuchars, its natural recruiting ground, as I strongly believe that is the best way forward. Expanding Leuchars further would create a fantastic chance for it to become a real army hub.
“The community in Fife should get behind this campaign as not only will it bring a welcome boost to the economy but it would also cement the position of Leuchars base for years to come.”
The Ministry of Defence was asked to comment.
Base should become more “family friendly”
Leuchars should become more family friendly and offer support to those moving to the area as it expands, the local MP has said.
Stephen Gethins has written to Sir Michael Fallon backing plans to turn the north-east Fife station into the main army base in Scotland.
But he also wants to see investment to help those new servicemen and women – and their families – who would be making their homes in the community if their units are re homed.
In a letter to Sir Michael, SNP representative Mr Gethins said: “It is my belief that if there is to be investment in Leuchars Station and more armed forces personnel sent there then that is to be welcome.
“It is my hope that Leuchars will see the investment and personnel numbers it deserves as a key defence asset.
“However, I would urge you to ensure that any future plans are focused on ensuring the provision of a family-friendly environment with good support mechanisms, especially for those new to the area.”
Analysis: No good reason not to
In his famous treatise, The Art of War, Sun Tzu wrote: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
The Ministry of Defence’s basing review is not chaos, of course, but there is certainly a vacuum and an opportunity for Leuchars to take advantage of.
Why couldn’t Scotland’s Army base itself out of north-east Fife?
It has the location – an hour or so from Edinburgh but also easily connected to arterial roads north and further south – and, crucially, it has the facilities.
The former RAF base still contains a working runway and infrastructure that could do with an upgrade but is still the envy of many while there is also space for training.
No matter how welcome it would be to have The Black Watch home again, back in the part of the country where the famous regiment belongs, this is an issue of hard-headed pragmatism, one which the Chinese general would be proud of.
It makes sense from a military point of view and bringing more people to the town can only help the economy – not only of Fife but of Dundee as well.
As far as The Courier is concerned there is no good reason for this not to go ahead. Yes, investment will be required and the transformation will not happen overnight.
But, as Sun Tzu also said: “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
Let’s take this one as a starting point.