MP poses questions as Shropshire Territorial Army centres dodge axe
Shropshire Territorial Army centres appear to have dodged the axe from the Government – but an MP today called for answers to questions over the future.
Telford MP David Wright had lobbied the Government about the need to keep the Territorial Army – now called Army Reserve – in Telford after it was reported the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry could be broken up.
Yesterday, defence minister Philip Hammond announced 26 TA bases would close, but neither Telford nor Shrewsbury's Copthorne Barracks, where the TA is also based, were on the list.
However, Mr Wright said his statement left a lot of questions unanswered and asked for reassurances over the Telford centre's future. He said: "The Government is proposing to retain a troop of reservists based in Telford but they will be subordinated to A Squadron in Dudley.
"Our reserves make a massive contribution to our military effectiveness and they are an important part of the fabric of our community in Telford. I want to ensure that the capacity and function of the base at Dawley Bank is retained.
"That's why I have today tabled some parliamentary questions to determine the exact role of the Telford site."
Mr Wright said he also wanted to know whether the Shropshire Yeomanry name now attached to the B Squadron at Dawley Bank would be retained. He added: "I was pleased to see that the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry cap badge will be preserved but we do need to know how large the reserve presence will be in Telford. We need to know the details."
It has already been announced that part of Copthorne Barracks will be sold off.
Around 80 military and civilian staff serving with The Headquarters 143 (West Midlands) Brigade at the Copthorne Road base will transfer to Donnington in Telford by 2015. The move signals the end of the regular Army's 138-year presence at Copthorne Barracks.
Ludlow MP Philip Dunne, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence, responsible for procurement of equipment, support and technology, said the army reserves were to undergo a major recruitment drive.
In parliament yesterday Mr Hammond announced incentives for businesses to support reservist employees, a £5,000 "signing-on bounty" for ex-regulars who sign up to the reserves, and upgraded holiday and pension entitlements to improve reservists' pay packages.
