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25
Jul 2024
Defence review prompts Ripon councillors to seek pause on barracks plans
Ripon City Council has called for a pause on the 1,300-home Clotherholme development plans following the new Labour government's launch of a defence review.
The wide-ranging root and branch review comes at a time of war in Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and increasing global threats.
Council leader Andrew Williams told members at yesterday evening's full council meeting:
There's no sign of the Royal Engineers vacating Claro Barracks in the near future and, in the changing world that we live in, there's every reason to believe that it should be retained as a fully functional military base, with troops reamaining here, rather than being moved to the 'super garrison' at Catterick.
You shouldn't keep your eggs in one basket and you shouldn't keep your soldiers on one base, where they would become a single target for Mr Putin.
Councillor Jackie Crozier said:
It is hugely important that we maintain Claro Barracks and keep our soldiers in Ripon. They are part of the rich military heritage of the city.
Councillors remain supportive of a smaller-scale Homes England development on the Deverell Barracks site, but agreed to call on Ripon's MP Julian Smith to lobby the Ministry of Defence about the retention of Claro Barracks as a fully functioning military base.
The MoD said:
The Strategic Defence Review was launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad for decades to come.
The review will put personnel at the heart of our future defence, strengthen our homeland security and ensure the UK continues to lead in NATO.
The review will utilise views from experts including military personnel, industry and academics. Defence Secretary John Healey will oversee the review, and the defence review team will be supported by a secretariat from the Ministry of Defence.
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