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D-day on military training base D-day for military training base
(40 minutes later)
An announcement is expected on whether 5,000 defence jobs are to be created in the Vale of Glamorgan in the largest UK Government investment made in Wales. The government is expected to announce a new defence training academy will be based at St Athan, creating 5,000 jobs and £58m annually to the local economy.
The Ministry of Defence will reveal if the Metrix consortium, based at RAF St Athan, has won contracts to set up a £14bn academy for military training. It would be the largest single government investment in Wales ever and follows setbacks in attempts to make St Athan a centre of aviation excellence. Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to make the official announcement in a statement to MPs.
The St Athan site has suffered a series of job cuts in recent years. The academy would teach skills from aeronautical engineering to security.
Defence Secretary Des Browne is expected to make the official announcement in a statement to MPs.
St Athan is competing against a rival bid from RAF Cosford in Shropshire, but Welsh MPs believe months of lobbying will end in backing for the Vale of Glamorgan site.St Athan is competing against a rival bid from RAF Cosford in Shropshire, but Welsh MPs believe months of lobbying will end in backing for the Vale of Glamorgan site.
This really will be a red letter day for the people of Wales John Smith MPThis really will be a red letter day for the people of Wales John Smith MP
The Metrix consortium says its bid would generate £58m a year for the local economy.
Recruits from the Army, Navy and RAF would all be trained at the centre instead of at separate locations with the new academy expected to be fully operational by 2013.Recruits from the Army, Navy and RAF would all be trained at the centre instead of at separate locations with the new academy expected to be fully operational by 2013.
The decision follows a review of defence training in the UK.The decision follows a review of defence training in the UK.
Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith said he was "very confident" St Athan would be awarded the two MoD contracts. Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith said he was "very confident" the Metrix consortium - which is bidding for the contracts - St Athan would be awarded the two MoD contracts.
He said: "I think we've always had by far the best bid, by far the best location and by far the best campaign lobbying for this bid.He said: "I think we've always had by far the best bid, by far the best location and by far the best campaign lobbying for this bid.
An artist's impression of how the military academy would lookAn artist's impression of how the military academy would look
"[The plans] are absolutely huge. It will be the biggest single investment ever in Wales of any kind. It will be by far bigger, for example than the entire London Olympic bid."[The plans] are absolutely huge. It will be the biggest single investment ever in Wales of any kind. It will be by far bigger, for example than the entire London Olympic bid.
"This really will be a red letter day for the people of Wales I believe.""This really will be a red letter day for the people of Wales I believe."
RAF St Athan officially opened in 1938 and in the post-war years grew into one of the UK's largest RAF bases.RAF St Athan officially opened in 1938 and in the post-war years grew into one of the UK's largest RAF bases.
But its fortunes seemed to be in decline in recent years with a series of job cuts and false dawns.But its fortunes seemed to be in decline in recent years with a series of job cuts and false dawns.
Months later in February 2003, the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) confirmed it would go ahead with a £77m high-tech aircraft repair and maintenance centre - securing 2,100 jobs at the site.Months later in February 2003, the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) confirmed it would go ahead with a £77m high-tech aircraft repair and maintenance centre - securing 2,100 jobs at the site.
Project Red Dragon aimed to develop a world-class aviation centre centring on St Athan, but despite the opening in 2005 of a super-hangar for repairing military aircraft, much of the intended work was carried out at other UK bases.Project Red Dragon aimed to develop a world-class aviation centre centring on St Athan, but despite the opening in 2005 of a super-hangar for repairing military aircraft, much of the intended work was carried out at other UK bases.
In 2004, the announcement came that 550 jobs were being lost at RAF St Athan and just six months later a warning was issued that it could close altogether.In 2004, the announcement came that 550 jobs were being lost at RAF St Athan and just six months later a warning was issued that it could close altogether.
A further blow was dealt in November 2005 when more jobs cuts were announced.A further blow was dealt in November 2005 when more jobs cuts were announced.
But by October 2006, the fortunes of the site improved once again when it emerged St Athan was the leading contender to secure the £14bn military training academy.But by October 2006, the fortunes of the site improved once again when it emerged St Athan was the leading contender to secure the £14bn military training academy.