Gary's views

FIGHTING

Surely the greatest word in the English language is “Granddad” especially when it comes attached to a look bordering on adulation (I know it won’t last). These days it is often followed by “can we play fighting?” or “can you be a monster?” I hope this too will pass.

But fighting is part of my job. In recent months I have been fighting for clarity about the future of the dockyard and naval base which have defined our city and driven our local economy for generations. Following a meeting with a defence minister in Whitehall this week the mist is beginning to clear. I now believe that I know precisely what future is intended for us.

The frigates will be leaving us and will be base-ported in Portsmouth. The submarines will go to Faslane. A much smaller Devonport naval base will be the home of the amphibious fleet, basically: Ocean, Albion and Bulwark. Some marine units will be transferred to our region. This will all mean a net loss of servicemen and women from this area and the spending power that goes with it.

The dockyard will continue to maintain the Trident submarines, and as soon as Rosyth starts work on its bit of the two new aircraft carriers that will be built for our navy, Devonport will get a reasonable share of the surface ship refit work. This is crucial to smooth out the fluctuating peaks and troughs of the nuclear work to enable the skill level at the yard to be maintained. But what will happen once the carriers are built? Surface ship refit work will be in short supply after that. So a reasonable medium term future for the dockyard (although there are job losses to come this year) but thereafter it is likely to down-size, possibly drastically. The worst scenario, but sadly a realistic one, is that the yard will ultimately become the place where nuclear vessels are decommissioned and the fissile material is stored. Not an attractive prospect.

The shrinking of the naval base is a blow but brings some good news – the release of real estate along the waterfront including south yard. But this is worthless without significant government investment to make development of these polluted sites possible. The fight for that cash will be a very determined one.

No formal announcements will be made for some months – but the picture seems crystal clear. More fighting to come, I am sure.