Pembrokeshire barracks to close

There's anger in West Wales to news that 600 well paid military jobs are being transferred out of Pembrokeshire and into one of the most wealthy parts of Wales.

14th Signal Regiment is being moved out of Cawdor barracks near Haverfordwest to St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan. It's a move that will see a hundred million pounds investment in Wales, but also the closure of the Pembrokeshire base.

Civic leaders there have warned the move will have a devestating effect on the economy of west Wales.

Andrew RT Davies AM is Regional Assembly Member for South Wales Central and leader of the Opposition

Stephen Crabb is a Welsh Office Minister and represents the constituency of Preseli Pembrokeshire, home to Cawdor Barracks.

Wales Office Minister Stephen Crabb says that the army reorganisation will see a £100 million investment in Wales as 14th Signal Regiment unit relocate to St Athan.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire close, with 14th Signal Regiment moving to St Athan in 2018.

Alun Cairns has welcomed the news that the 14th Signal Regiment will move to the MoD base at St Athan.

The Conservative MP who represents the Vale of Glamorgan said that the announcement will "guarantee MoD funds in the area with increased spend from soldiers through to contracts for local builders for structural projects on site."

He said that without the move "St Athan could have been closed for development purposes" but that it will now become "one of the UK’s key military bases."

The Defence Secretary has confirmed that the 14th Signal Regiment will leave their base at Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire. The 600 military personnel will move to the former RAF St Athan site in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Phillip Hammond announced the changes as part of a major reorganisation of army bases in the UK.

Around 11,000 British troops based in Germany will return home by 2016 under plans which will see nearly £2 billion invested in Army housing and bases, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will announce today.

Under the speeded-up withdrawal, the remaining 4,500 troops will be back in the UK by 2019, a year earlier than planned.

Around £1bn of the funding being announced today will go towards 1,900 new houses for service families and accommodation for 7,800 single soldiers.

Another £800 million will be spent on infrastructure and refurbishment of bases.

The Government hopes the plans will mean more cash is ploughed back into the British, rather than German, economy as well as creating new construction jobs in the UK.

Savings of around £240 million a year are also expected to be made through reductions in operating costs.

The Defence Secretary is expected to announce a major reorganisation of army bases in the UK and Germany today. There is speculation that one of those that will close will be Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire that is home to 700 military personnel from the 14th Signals Regiment.

The plans expected to be announced in the House of Commons this afternoon are also thought to include an expansion of the former RAF St Athan site in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Concerns were raised over the future of Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, earlier this year.

The barracks houses some 700 military personnel as home of the 14th Signals Regiment and plays a massive role in the economy of west Wales.