MoD to seek local input on Bath future

5.44.00pm GMT Thu 18th Mar 2010

Following their meeting last week, Undersecretary of State for Defence, Kevan Jones MP, has written to Don Foster saying that further local opinions will be sought in making a decision on the future of the MoD in Bath.

The MoD had recently announced plans that could see all their staff leave Bath for Abbey Wood. Bath's No.1 supporter Don Foster secured a meeting with the member of the government, and spoke of the need to keep jobs in Bath.

A working group will now be set up, involving local agencies including Bath & North East Somerset Council, which will work to resolve the issues over the three sites in Bath. Don has also requested a timetable on the future of Foxhill and Warminster Road.

Don said, "My meeting with Kevan Jones MP was very productive. I have made him aware of a number of issues in Bath, and he has agreed that the MoD needs to seek further local advice in putting together these plans.

"We need to have a timetable for Foxhill and Warminster Road so that we can effectively plan for their future. I think it's very important that we keep some of these MoD jobs at the Ensleigh site, and this working group will now have a chance to explore that and put forward the case for keeping jobs here.

"I'm delighted that we have managed to secure local involvement in the decision on the future of these sites."

Councillors Roger Symonds and Cherry Beath (Combe Down, Lib Dem) represent the ward where the current Foxhill site is situated.

Cllr Symonds added, "In my experience it is very unusual for a large national institution to involve local people in decisions on the future of their land. We first of all must have some certainty about which sites are to become available for development and then make sure that the site or sites helps address the affordable housing crisis in Bath."

Cllr Cherry Beath commented, "Don Foster has taken an important lead here, and asked the necessary questions of the MoD with the aim of getting the clarity we need. I am pleased that one of the results he has achieved is the idea of a working group. Affordable housing must be high on the list for the future of these sites, but also office and business enterprise space, which we are so short of in Bath.