Helensburgh Advertiser | News | Faslane talks spark anger

Wednesday, 19th November, 2008

Published: Monday, 7th April, 2008 10:00

Faslane talks spark anger

By Steve McElroy

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A CRUCIAL meeting to decide the future of the Faslane base if its nuclear weapons were removed was condemned this week as the move would leave the town’s economy in tatters.

The proposal would result in the loss of thousands of jobs and devastate the local economy, according to Helensburgh and Lomond MSP Jackie Baillie, and an ex-Clyde Base navy chief.

The move is part of a remit by the SNP-backed Working Group On A Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons which holds its first meeting next Wednesday (April 9).

Part of their remit is that in the event of a decision to remove nuclear weapons from HM Naval Base Clyde they would “examine the impact and identify options for the development of alternative employment opportunities.” A member of the Group is Helensburgh Central SNP Councillor James Robb who said: “Scotland now has a positive and assertive approach to a better future with the current Scottish Government.

“The future of the naval facilities is safe with the SNP.

“The remit for this group has now been published and I hope all the local politicians who have been trying to scare voters into supporting them with unfounded allegations will do the decent thing and apologise for the unnecessary stress and worry they have caused to local families. Only a petulant Labour Government driven by Gordon Brown’s desire to crush Scottish optimism and success could damage the future prosperity of this area.

“The SNP is planning a safe, secure and prosperous future for the port facilities under all possible scenarios recognising their importance to a successful local economy.’

But Labour’s Jackie Baillie hit back and said: “It is astounding that the SNP continue to neglect the interests of the community. If they can’t agree as a starting point that we would lose around 6,500 jobs plus about 4,000 in the supply industry then I have little time for this working group.

“Helensburgh needs Faslane as a Naval Base, and if it lost 11,000 jobs it would be treated with a degree of incredulity. The local economy receives something like £250 million and if that goes it would have a major impact.

“The Naval base feeds Helensburgh’s local economy and provides homes for a number of people in the town and surrounding areas and provides an economical benefit to shopkeepers and other suppliers.”

She added: “It makes no sense to rid Scotland of nuclear weapons and it wouldn’t not happen as that is a remit of Westminster. The SNP would do better to focus on things which they were elected to do such as health and education.”

Eric Thompson, ex-Clyde Commodore and former Lib Dem Helensburgh councillor, also slammed the Working Group’s remit and claimed: “A Scottish navy would end up the size of an Icelandic protection force. They would end up with a Scottish navy which would go from 4,000 to about 200-300.

“If you take nuclear weapons away from Faslane they would go to the naval base at Devonport and the people there would rub their hands with glee. Faslane would be left with nothing, but the SNP could only do this if Scotland was independent they couldn’t do it under the powers as they stand at the moment.

“The local economy would be hit with businesses all affected. There is no way the SNP could replace that number of jobs.”

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