Future of MOD Longtown

Defence Minister Philip Dunne has been to the MOD site at Longtown in Cumbria, to hear more about the plans for the site.

It was announced last month that the site would not be closing, after years of uncertainty - although more than 50 jobs will go.

Today, Mr Dunne spoke to Unions and the Council about their concerns over job losses, and how they're working together, to turn the site into a dual military and industry hub.

Hannah McNulty reports:

Defence Minister Philip Dunne has been at MOD Longtown to hear more about the future of the site.

It was announced last month the munitions depot wouldn't close after years of uncertainty but 53 jobs are set to go.

Mr Dunne spoke to unions and the council about the jobs and about plans to build an industry hub on some of the 1,300 acre site.

Councillors have been meeting with Defence Minister Philip Dunne at the Longtown MOD site to discuss its future.

Despite 53 jobs at the site going, union members say they are pleased by the decision.

Defence Minister Philip Dunne said the MOD are holding talks with Councils and other agencies about commercial opportunities at the site.

Defence Minister Philip Dunne has been meeting councillors at the Longtown MOD site to

discuss the future of the site.

It had been earmarked for outright closure and now the news that MOD Longtown has been given a reprieve has been welcomed by MP's and trade unions alike.

Part of the agreement to retain 182 jobs at the munitions depot is to look at how alternative uses for the site can create new investment for the area.

Andy Burn reports.

Cumbria County Council are in talks with potential investors, keen to re-develop some of the land at the MOD depot in Longtown.

It was saved from closure yesterday, although the MOD is reducing the size of the depot with the loss of 53 jobs.

The county council says a number of companies are keen to buy land when it become available.

Cumbria County Council is looking into ways to bring potential investors into Longtown.

They are considering developing land that remains unused from the downsizing of the MOD

depot.

The Longtown base had been threatened with closure as part of the Government's cost cutting measures.

The base was recently given a reprieve, but 50 jobs out of a workforce of 300 were lost.

Politicians on both sides of the border are promising to do all they can to help people who are losing their jobs at the Longtown munitions base near Carlisle.

The site's future has been secured until at least 2017 but 53 workers will be made redundant.

Help is going to be made available for those who are losing their jobs.

For more reaction to today's news our reporter Hannah McNulty has been in Carlisle.