The Clyde Naval Base at Faslane is undergoing a significant expansion, with personnel numbers set to increase by nearly 40 per cent, according to a recent report in The Lochside Press.
This expansion includes plans for new infrastructure to support the forthcoming Dreadnought-class submarines. The base, located on the Gareloch, the Rosneath Peninsula and Coulport, Loch Long, has seen all its 2,602 cabins built within the last two decades.
However, an additional 1,025 cabins are now being planned to accommodate staff relocating to the Clyde for the new Royal Navy Submarine Training Centre, forecast to open in 2025.
Commander Peter Noblett, executive officer at HM Naval Base Clyde, recently shared these updates with the Rhu and Shandon Community Council.
He highlighted that many current buildings at the base are “nearing the end of their serviceable life” and will be replaced in the coming years.
Commander Noblett also noted the need for “additional infrastructure work around jetties and docking facilities” to support the new Dreadnought submarines.
He expressed optimism about local economic benefits, citing “plenty of employment opportunities within the base, ranging from multi-million pound project managers to part-time catering and cleaning staff.”
“HMNB Clyde is looking forward to an extremely busy couple of years in terms of base infrastructure. As most of you will know the modern HMS NEPTUNE was opened in 1968 to base the new RESOLUTION Class Polaris submarines, so consequently a lot of the infrastructure dates from the same period.
Whilst all current accommodation (2602 cabins) has been renewed over the last 20 years or so, there is still the need to build more accommodation to house the additional personnel that the Royal Navy Submarine Training Centre (RNSTC) will bring North from Torpoint in Cornwall when it opens fully towards the end of 2025.
New accommodation of 1025 cabins will be built to cater for this increase. There are also many buildings in the working areas of the base which are nearing the end of their serviceable life; consequently there will be a lot of building work over the next few years replacing those buildings.
Finally the introduction of the new DREADNOUGHT class Trident submarines within the next 10 years will require additional infrastructure work around jetties and docking facilities.
The good news for the local economy is that there are plenty of employment opportunities within the base, ranging from multi-million pound project managers to part-time catering and cleaning staff. There will undoubtedly be a huge demand for hotel accommodation for all the additional contractors.”
In related news, figures uncovered by Deidre Brock, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, reveal that over 6,000 people are currently employed at Faslane and Coulport.
These figures emerged following a series of questions Ms Brock – bete noir of Commons leader and Coronation sword carrier Penny Mordaunt, PICTURED LEFT, – posed in Parliament about employment at HMNB Clyde.
James Heappey MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, provided detailed responses, indicating that a significant portion of the personnel at these locations are Scottish taxpayers.
Specifically, 38.4% of uniformed Royal Navy Service personnel, 91% of civilian employees who are not contractors at Faslane, and 88% to 89% of uniformed contractors at Faslane and Coulport are Scottish taxpayers.
This data underscores the substantial local employment impact of the naval bases, with a total of 4,583 Scottish taxpayers among the 6,068 civilian and military personnel working at Faslane and Coulport.
A social media row ensued when Peter Thewin asked: “Aside from employment, to what extent do these bases contribute to the local economy through the military within using the local shops, bars, cafes and other local businesses?
“Is it significant, or do they have most of their needs met within the bases? If the latter, are these provided by local businesses, or are they sourced from elsewhere?”
Alistair Cameron replied: “As I understand things the base employs more civilians, who live off-base, than military.”
Derick Gray said: “There are far more civilians working in Faslane than there are sailors. Work buses transport workers from Glasgow, Clydebank and many other places in the central belt.”
Julian Calvert, a retired journalism lecturer who once worked for the Helensburgh Advertiser interjected: “I know plagiarism happens a lot in journalism nowadays but they might at least have included a link to my story, which they copied word for word. Here you go, paywalled though https://thelochsidepress.com/…/major-expansion-at…/”
Peter Thewin said: “Jobs where people are bussed in from greater Glasgow isn’t local.”
However, Belinda Ruthven told him: “Approx 8000 people directly or indirectly employed. Local businesses, schools etc would not survive without it.” it’s not rocket science. Did you actually read the report? 6000 employed at the base. The local economy only exists because of the support it receives from these employees.”
Belinda Ruthven told him: “I like to see independent research and verifiable data. The peninsula economy seems like it could do with a big injection of cash. Only one wee supermarket and a couple of shops in Rosneath …. is that the local economy?”
Peter Thewin said the Post Office at Garelochhead was due to close soon and so too was the bank at Kilcreggan. So where’s this economy? If there’s a thriving local economy then we don’t expect to see sparse shopping locally, banks and post offices shutting. There’s a failure in the local economy, and A&B council should be paying attention to this.”
He added: “Belinda Ruthven we have a health centre that can’t keep a permanent GP, and there are other indicators of lack of demand with nothing appearing as a replacement. Retirees shopping online in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s isn’t going to lead to new pupils in local schools.”
Denzil Bell hit back: “There you have it Peter in his infinite wisdom would like the base to shut and thus lose thousands of people their jobs, well done that man for such forward thinking.”
ADMIN stepped in — “I would like to remind members to keep comments civil please. Those breaking the civility rules will be removed. We can disagree politely.”
Could this be the beginning of a new series of the Peninsula Wars? Watch this space.
