Friend made it clear in the debate the other day that, after an extensive search in all possible areas, we decided that this was the only place to which to go. The species became restricted to the Hebridean islands on the west coast of Scotland. Highland Perthshire The head of security, head of technical, head of operations are all local people. All other areas on Benbecula range between 74% (Lionacleit) and 62% (Gramsdale and Uachdar ). Peter Peacock, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: "This is a very disappointing development and represents a real blow to the economy of the islands. Official sources insisted that no decision had ever been made to close the missile range, but the Western Isles is a marginal seat held by the Scottish National party with a 1,441 majority. The task force had agreed an action plan to fight for the retention of jobs. It is not correct to say that everything is at a standstill. This revised plan will require rather less land in the Hebrides than was originally proposed, and will enable the construction programme there to be greatly curtailed. I cannot yet say how much will be spent in 195859. Will the Minister do something definite, at least to restore the damage that has already been done? "I have already pledged my support to the comhairle in any constructive representations they wish to make to the MoD and UK Government.". Storas Uibhist, the community-run landowner on South Uist, said there was speculation locally that jobs could go. Overview. - Hansard, December 4, 1957. [^ROCKET RANGE, THE HEBRIDES (Hansard, 4 December 1957)^], HANSARD 18032005 1950s 1957 December 1957 4 December 1957 Written Answers (Commons) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE On Wednesday the MoD announced a series of proposed changes to how its ranges operate. It is no use saying that there is no waste. What is the big change? Modernization programs are underway, including a replacement for the Ohio-class submarine, next generation land-based ICBMs, a new long-range nuclear capable . In 2009, there were concerns expressed by the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and by island politicians that the range would be shut down. But people are worried. It refused to comment on speculation about jobs. Pressure mounting on govt not to close an army missile range in Western Isles<br>Guid: ANBH821Y<br>Story Number: 321/93/12EC benbecula has a long military history an airfield to the north, built during world war ii, became the control centre for the hebrides rocket range, established during the cold war and is now benbecula airport, an army base was established here in 1958 and is one of the main employers on the island as it is the headquarters for those who service He added: "QinetiQ is the largest private sector employer in the Western Isles and HIE will be pressing for very clear explanations on what forces are at work within the international defence industry which could have prompted this proposal. In 1994, there were threats of closure with 500 jobs at risk. Angus Campbell, leader of Western Isles Council and chairman of the multi-agency Hebrides Range Task Force, acknowledges that, out of context, the total is small beer in a recession-hit UK. Mr. Ward: Rocket Range, The Hebrides "As the contractor operating and managing the Hebrides range on behalf of the MOD we have commenced some planning in support of this announcement. British forces have used UAV spy drones in Afghanistan. ", He added: "It is here, it is here to stay.". France is one of the world's major missile powers, with an array of sophisticated ballistic and cruise missile programs. Group chairman Angus Campbell said Mr Murphy was well aware about the impact of staff reductions would have on jobs and the islands economy. Isle of Mull A job advert for a project manager to "dismantle" the Benbecula missile test range has been posted, despite the MoD insisting no decision has been made. Here is a snapshot of reaction and comment so far: Defence Minister Quentin Davies: "I know that this will be very disappointing news for the staff at our ranges, and I do not underestimate the impact these proposals and job losses will have on the Hebrides community, especially in the current recession. "If the UK Government has any commitment at all to supporting island jobs and maintaining island populations, they must understand that.". Nel 1955 il governo britannico decise di includere Saint Kilda in un'area di test missilistici con base a Benbecula. "Surely it can't make much difference to the MoD so I would appeal to them to give us the courtesy of an adequate and meaningful consultation period. Some 90 jobs would be left, but the reduction would be dramatic and it would be cruel given what the community has contributed.". People have been rendered homeless and landless and unemployed. The taskforce set up to fight the cuts - part of plans aimed at saving about 50m - has already met Mr Murphy. At the weekend, an advert was posted for a project manager to "dismantle" the site, but the MoD said no decision had been made. The largest share of the cuts are being made on the Western Isles, where there are four ranges and facilities on Benbecula, South Uist and St Kilda. Guided Weapons Range, The Hebrides It was developed as a joint venture between DRDO and Russia. The MoD has asked contractor QinetiQ to withdraw the Raasay plans. Home to a substantial missile and radar range, where the larger rockets in our arsenal can be fired out towards the US. Comhairle leader, Angus Campbell: "The comhairle will make every effort to avert the threatened job losses at the Uist Test Range and we have already made contact with key players in this developing situation asking them to intervene as a matter of urgency. Defence procurement minister Quentin Davis has said the Ministry of Defence would launch a campaign to market the Uist rocket range in the New Year. [[!First]] The range is known to have been used for 222 launches from 1962 to 1982, reaching altitudes up to 174 kilometres. [^South Uist^]. A website has been launched in the fight to save threatened jobs on rocket test ranges in the Western Isles. Uist people have given their full cooperation to the bases over the decades and now deserve fair treatment in return.". In 2009 proposed job cuts for the range were abandoned. asked the Minister of Defence if he is now able to make a statement about the proposed abandonment of, or reduction of expenditure upon, the guided missiles project in the Western Isles. The islands' SNP MP Angus MacNeil and MSP Dr Alasdair Allan hailed the decision. I tried a few set-ups but no matter what, it always looks like I'm weaker with a loadout of tracking turrets compared to simple plasma turrets. Some welcomed the military, while others worried they were now targets. Provided by photographers, and are 100 metres. (function() { He said: "If it is confirmed this week that there are to be major job losses in the defence sector in Uist, then the UK Government are dealing a very heavy blow to the islands. In 1996, the June 17 edition of the Daily Record carried an article relating to the completion of work to update the range and its facilities, suggesting that "Britain wants friendly foreign military men to test their missiles in South Uist to help pay for a recent 14 million facelift to the rocket range in the Outer Hebridean islands". RSPB warden Jamie Boyle said the machair was key to the survival of rare species such as corncrake. Some of those employed on Benbecula and South Uist also run crofts and farm fertile grasslands, known as machair, using traditional methods. The lone policeman who tried to stem the Seoul crush, Aboriginal boy's killing puts spotlight on racism, Billions being spent in metaverse land grab. The radar station is staffed all year, mostly by civilian staff, while trust wardens stay on Hirta from April to September. Staff were also to be pulled out of the range's tracking station on Hirta in St Kilda, while West Camp on Benbecula was to be downgraded. Defence contractor QinetiQ runs the sites on South Uist and Benbecula and also St Kilda on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). If implemented the MoD plan would mean that one in six jobs in the southern isles would be lost as QuinetiQ the private contractor running Range Hebrides, move the command and control centre for missile firing to its base at Aberporth in south Wales in an effort to save 50m. On 9/11, I was not in a building that collapsed or on a plane that crashed and ultimately made my way home safely. Related Canmore/RCAHMS and ScotlandsPlaces (SP) entries:-, document.write("⇒ Show marker list"). If so, is that not a very substantial reason why we should consider whether the Ministry of Supply is any longer of value? Local councillor Peter Carlin, who runs a laundry business near the base, said: "Forty to sixty per cent of our business comes from the MoD so it will affect my own business in a big way. NTS, which owns the islands, said staff at the test rocket tracking station helped to protect the environment. However, the end of the war and withdrawal of the unit reinforced a feeling of isolation among the community. Last February radar personnel helped monitor the state of a trawler which ran aground on Hirta during a storm. If you wish to have an entry, then please email me at alan@explorescotland.net, Copyright Explore Scotland 2020 We feel very strongly about this matter, and will do our best, as the young people, and the future of the islands, to make sure the minister knows what he'll be doing by cutting those jobs, other than saving the MOD a few pounds.". Read about our approach to external linking. DAVID ROSS, Highland Correspondent June 25 2009. When the Royal Artillery pulled out, defence technology company QinetiQ took over the management of the site and there was a local campaign to keep the facilities open. May I try, once again, to bring the Minister to his feet on one issue which is of more than ordinary importance to the local people? Ahead of a meeting with Defence Minister Quentin Davies, Angus MacMillan said consideration should be given to expanding the range. "In the meantime the taskforce emphasised that it is vital that we have access to the fullest information to allow us and the teams we have commissioned to prepare a robust response to the MoD's proposals.". General views of site conditions at at the early stages of the construction of the Royal Artillery Range, Radar Installations at Benbecula Airport. Mr MacNeil said: "This is really a warning shot to the defence minister that if he does axe the jobs, the defence select committee will still maintain an interest in what is going on and there are a number of questions around the haste with which the decision has been made.". This refers back to the 6th century when there was a monastery here and the ruins of Columba's Church can be found just south of the village. Defence minister Quentin Davies said: "I know that this will be very disappointing news for the staff at our ranges and I do not under-estimate the impact these proposals and job losses will have on the Hebrides community, especially in the current recession. They have a 25-year contract to oversee the facility, but that is subject to reviews every five years. Once fully up and running, www.hebridesrangetaskforce.co.uk will have a message board to allow the public to post views on the plans. Tobermory NTS, which is in the process of making cost savings of its own, said it would struggle to protect the islands' wildlife and archaeological sites alone. The community landowner controls large parts of Benbecula, Eriskay and South Uist. Those factors, and a number of other factors which I cannot go into at this moment, have made it possible to accommodate the Service firings for surface-to-air and air-to-air weapons at Aberporth, supplemented to some extent by the Army gunnery range in Anglesey, and, therefore, have made it unnecessary for us to proceed with all the work in the Hebrides. Cruise missiles can be categorised by size, speed (subsonic or supersonic), range and whether launched from land, air, surface ship or submarine. The warden said the rare birds and wild plants on the machair had helped boost wildlife tourism on the islands over the last 10 years. 101. In more recent times, the range and its associated facilities on South Uist and also Hirta - the main island on the remote St Kilda archipelago - became a key player in the Western Isles economy. Why we know so little about the battle for Kherson. Politicians, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have spoken out on the plans. 3) Hypersonic cruise missile. Gentleman says, I hope that there may be savings. In 1955 the British government decided to incorporate St Kilda into a missile tracking range based in Benbecula, where test firings and flights are carried out. Does he not think that the establishment of a rocket range on the west coast of Scotland will make huge areas of Scotland less safe than they would otherwise have been, and will he revise his evacuation proposals in the light of that? QinetiQ, a leading science and engineering company, the contractors operating the Hebrides Range on behalf of its owners the MoD, will invest approximately 60 million in modern tracking. There is an airport at Balivanich, where there is also the only cash machine on both Benbecula and South Uist. At the end of the war, RAF Benbecula became Benbecula Airport, helping link Benbecula and the Uists with the rest of Scotland. Almaty Kazakhstan The National Trust for Scotland, who own St Kilda, warned that the MoDs withdrawal from the archipelago would severely jeopardise their ability to oversee a site of huge environmental importance. Fiction: non-fiction. The development programme of the Ministry of Supply was in certain respects reduced, with the result that spare capacity was thrown up at the rocket range at Aberporth; and also, as a result of the reduction in the size of the fighter force, the number of firings which it was necessary to carry out for the purposes of training that force was obviously also reduced. Will the Minister's consideration take into account the fact that the lowest estimate for this scheme was 15 million, and that one was 20 million? Mr. Emrys Hughes: google_ad_format = '120x600_as'; A proposal to modernise the facility with the loss of 125 jobs has been accepted in principle by the MoD and put out to consultation. "QinetiQ is one of the largest employers on the islands and they are skilled jobs which are in short supply here.". The taskforce includes public bodies including local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. google_ad_width = 120; The MoD said it would work closely with NTS and Scottish Natural Heritage on its plans for the St Kilda station. Gentleman also say whether the Ministry of Supply bears any responsibility for this scheme? The buildings and the guided missile firing range are visible on vertical air photographs (All Scotland Survey, 04 87 161-163, flown 22 May 1987). She added: "The trust would also face a massive increase in costs to maintain our work there and to deal with the redundant MoD buildings. The right hon. 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