Job losses feared as military camp downsized
5 December 2016
Plans to cut back the accommodation facility at the Uist rocket range may mean job losses.
Operator, QinetiQ, confirmed it intends to “hand back” part of the barracks at West Camp in Balivanich which houses military personnel during weapons testing at the base.
Most of the workers at West Camp are employed by catering company, Elior UK while QinetiQ directly employs six people connected to the facility.
But the barracks -
The amount of accommodation in use will be reduced.
The news follows QinetiQ’s announcement of a £60 million revamp of the South Uist range.
New accommodation will be constructed for the associated tracking station on St Kilda and modern radar and communications system installed.
QinetiQ’s operation’s director, Graeme Morrison, said the investment will ensure the Hebrides remains at the “cutting edge of military testing” and supports jobs by guaranteeing the future of the Hebrides Range for at least 10 years by continuing to attract international customers.
Mr Morrison said: “We will be scaling back the size of the West Camp facility at Benbecula, where six QinetiQ employees are based and catering services are provided by our local contractor.
“We will be investing in the refurbishment of a smaller facility, for which resourcing will be reviewed over the next ten months.”
He added: “MOD Hebrides has recently hosted several large-
“We hope that local businesses such as hotels and restaurants will benefit during such times of peak demand.”