Defence minister tours Uist rocket range 25/8/11
Peter Luff, the UK minister for defence support, has promised the axe will not be wielded over the Uist rocket range for at least five years as he toured the reprieved facility today.
The missile base is crucial to the islands’ economy but it was feared that plans to run it down could be dusted down particularly as military budgets were undergoing a major review to make dramatic savings.
But the Coalition Government’s assurance that the weapons facility is safe for the next few years has heartened campaigners who fought against the threat of devastating job losses and depopulation when the previous administration proposed to it run it down 180 people redundant.
The effect would have devastated local economy warned Western Isles Council which
launched a task force and won an U-
Peter Luff was keen to see the country’s largest weapons testing centre and thre council urged him to see for himself the crucial role it had for the islands’ fragile economy as well as its important military function.
It the largest missile range in the UK and is run by Qinetiq on behalf of the MoD
Mr Luff confirmed the Hebrides range is guaranteed for at least the next five years and will be modernised to ensure its vital military role and continues to support to troops on operations.
Peter Luff is consulting with people who work at the range and representatives of the local community to discuss the way forward for the upgrade investment.