A RARE show of political unanimity in Penicuik has marked the start of what is hoped will be a successful battle to save the town’s Glencorse Barracks.

Every local politician came together earlier this week to launch a petition that will be delivered to Westminster by local SNP MP Owen Thompson.

It calls on Defence Secretary Michael Fallon to come to see Glencorse for himself and reverse the UK Government’s decision to close the barracks by 2032.

Thompson said: “Glencorse Barracks is fit for purpose following its £60 million upgrade in 2005 when it was hailed by the Ministry of Defence as ‘bench-mark accommodation’.

“It makes no financial sense to close Glencorse given that it is already at the standard required for a modern army base and needs no major works to continue to operate effectively and efficiently.”

Dating from 1803, Glencorse Barracks has been home to the Army for almost 150 years and currently houses 552 service personnel and their families.

It is currently home to the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the 2nd battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and is also a major selection and training centre for the Army. Glencorse is one of 56 sites across the UK earmarked to go, but all the local politicians say the barracks must stay, not least because it is one of the most modern in the entire British forces.

Local Labour stalwart Councillor Adam Montgomery recalled the last time that Glencorse was threatened with closure in 2003.

The former Provost of Midlothian told The National: “We went down to the MoD and they gave us an assurance that it would not be closing and that in fact it would be the first barracks in the UK to be refurbished, and it was, at cost of more than £50m.

“For the life of me I cannot understand why they are closing Glencorse when other barracks are going to need refurbishment.

“I understand that other areas will say they need their barracks but we have a barracks that is fully functional, and has had all that money spent on it, so why close it?”

Montgomery pointed out that Glencorse is the same size as the massive Shawfair development to the south-east of Edinburgh.

“It is a big area,” said Montgomery, “and to give you an idea of the impact on the community, when it was agreed that 600 soldiers and their families would be based here, the MoD paid for two of the four classrooms in the extension that was built on to Mauricewood Primary School at the time.”

There is unity across Penicuik and beyond in opposition to the closure.

Montgomery added: “Anybody you speak to is against it, absolutely nobody thinks it is a good idea.

“The soldiers and their families are integral to the community.

“Their children go to local schools and youth clubs, the wives shop in local shops, and we just do not want them to be lost to the community.”

Christine Grahame the SNP MSP for Midlothian South, said: “The history of Glencorse from the Napoleonic wars through to the present day is well documented and there is no doubt that the base is an integral part of the wider Penicuik community.

“Armed forces personnel and their families are involved in all aspects of the town, the arguments backing up the retention of Glencorse are strong.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The Better Defence Estate Strategy, announced in November, will result in investment being concentrated into fewer, better, locations in Scotland.

“It will allow the disposal of under-used sites for which there is no longer an enduring defence requirement and enable greater investment in sites which better support military capability.”