A cross-party move to halt the transfer of the rescue coordination centre out of Moray has been gathering strength with Scotland’s First Minister leading the way.
Nicola Sturgeon has written to the Prime Minister urging his intervention and asking that he seek an agreement from his Defence Secretary Michael Fallon to reconsider the move.
It was announced last week that the ARCC facility at Kinloss Barracks was to be moved to Hampshire in a move that would see 27 military and 10 civilian posts being lost to Moray.
Earlier this week Highlands, Islands and Moray Labour MSP David Stewart launched a last-ditch attempt to reverse the proposal, posting a question to the First Minister on what talks the Scottish Government had held with the UK Government over the matter.
Now Ms Sturgeon has written to David Cameron highlighting how “vitally important” the expertise currently held at Kinloss was for search and rescue services throughout the country.
In her letter the First Minister said: “Their presence at Kinloss Barracks is especially valued in light of Scotland’s extensive coastline and mountain ranges and through the relationships that our mountain rescue teams have developed over a number of years with their ARCC colleagues.
“We can see no reason for the closure of the ARCC at Kinloss and strongly believe that this decision should be reconsidered and reversed.”
The appeal from the First Minister was back by all Scottish Party leaders with the new Labour leader, Jim Murphy, also writing a personal appeal to the Prime Minister.