Minister to visit threatened Hampshire military base (From Daily Echo)

Minister to visit threatened Hampshire military base

12:00pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News

A GOVERNMENT minister has been persuaded to pay a visit to a threatened Hampshire military base before its fate is sealed.

Campaigners will have a final chance to lobby Peter Luff, the Defence Minister, when he visits Marchwood early next month.

The centre is set to be sold as part of a cost-cutting review.

Mr Luff was asked in Parliament about the site by New Forest East MP Julian Lewis, who is worried that the sale will fall into the hands of Southampton Port owners Associated British Ports.

Dr Lewis believes this could trigger a bid to create a large container port similar to the one proposed and eventually turned down at nearby Dibden Bay.

But Mr Luff said: “No decision has yet been made on the future of the site, as the assessment process is ongoing.

“It is too early to rule out any options.”

The Ministry of Defence has earmarked Marchwood, which employs more than 750 soldiers and civilians, as part of its cost-cutting strategic review.

It is home to the 17 Port and Maritime Regiment which earlier this year led Totton carnival as part of a homecoming parade to mark their return from serving in Afghanistan.

Dr Lewis said: “The vital question is not so much who owns the freehold, but whether Britain’s only military port will remain at Marchwood, or whether it will be transferred somewhere else.”