An £8 million upgrade to Leuchars’ military base is being spent on sports facilities as well as upgrading accommodation and other buildings, it has emerged.
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, revealed in The Courier that the home of the Royal Scots DGs will receive more cash to expand further.
The Invergowrie-born cabinet secretary pledged to make it “one of the major Scottish” bases and, in a written response to the SNP’s Stephen Gethins, Under Secretary of State for Defence Personnel and Veterans Mark Lancaster has revealed where the money is being spent.
He said: “As part of this larger package of investment the plan contains a commitment to invest around £8 million in the infrastructure and facilities at Leuchars.
“The investment is being spent on improvements to existing facilities including the upgrade of buildings, existing single living accommodation and sports facilities.”
North East Fife MP Mr Gethins said much more Ministry of Defence investment was required for the area, particularly given the upheaval which accompanied the RAF quitting Fife.
He said: “It is welcome that the MoD is providing at least some investment in Leuchars. The base is after all one of the best assets that the Ministry possesses and its role is more important than ever before.
“However, this is just a drop in the ocean of the kind of investment that Leuchars should be getting. For over a century the community in Leuchars has hosted military personnel and that is a long and valuable relationship.
“The loss of the RAF base was a blow. Nevertheless the facility is a valuable resource and needs significant continued investment . This is a start but just a start.”
The RAF formally quit Fife last year but the facilities are still used to accommodate jets. It also maintains a role monitoring flights in and out of Dundee and elsewhere.
Mr Fallon has said it is well placed strategically to cope with potential Russian threats.
