Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell has welcomed the announcement that Defence Minister Peter Luff has agreed to visit the Longtown Munitions Depot on the 14th of August ahead of making a decision on its future in September.
Mr Mundell, who is opposed to any proposal that would see the site closed and work transferred elsewhere will join MPs from neighbouring constituencies to make a further plea to keep the munitions site open. Laurence Bryant, the new director of weapons at the MoD will also visit Longtown later this month (19th July).
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is currently considering plans which could mean the closure of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency site in 2014, with the loss of 300 jobs. The tasks currently carried out by Longtown would then be re-allocated to Kineton in Warwickshire.
However, no decision has yet been made and Mr Mundell is still hopeful of a positive outcome. Mr Mundell has raised and will continue to raise the concerns of his constituents, many of whom work at Longtown or have connections to the site, ahead of the decision making process. The Dumfriesshire MP believes that the team campaigning to save Longtown now need to do everything they can to show the Minister the benefits of the site, particularly its reliable and experienced workforce.
Mr Mundell said: “This visit provides an opportunity for the Minister to see first hand the excellent workforce we have here at Longtown and the great potential they have to offer the MoD over the coming years. It also gives him the chance to hear more about the serious economic impact of closure on the local area.
“There is still time to save Longtown and it is essential that everyone involved keeps up the pressure ahead of the decision. I am determined to make sure the Minister takes note of local concerns and securing this visit could make all the difference.”