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Military base brings 5,000 jobs Military base brings 5,000 jobs
(10 minutes later)
The government has confirmed that a new defence training academy will be based at St Athan, creating 5,000 jobs and £58m annually to the local economy.The government has confirmed that a new defence training academy will be based at St Athan, creating 5,000 jobs and £58m annually to the local economy.
It marks the largest single investment in Wales and follows setbacks in making the Vale of Glamorgan site a centre of aviation excellence. It marks Wales' largest single investment and follows setbacks in securing the site as a centre of aviation excellence.
RAF St Athan had competed against a rival bid from Cosford in Shropshire
The academy will teach skills from aeronautical engineering to security to some 10,000 armed forces personnel.The academy will teach skills from aeronautical engineering to security to some 10,000 armed forces personnel.
Defence Secretary Des Browne made the announcement to MPs in the Commons. But There was dismay for rival bids - RAF Cosford and Blandford in Dorset
Defence Secretary Des Browne told the Commons the centre would "transform the way" the UK's militaryis trained.
The impact of the new academy for the valleys and the whole of the Welsh economy will be huge Chris Bryant MPThe impact of the new academy for the valleys and the whole of the Welsh economy will be huge Chris Bryant MP
Recruits from the Army, Navy and RAF will all be trained at the centre with the new academy expected to be fully operational by 2013 training 10,000 armed forces personnel. He said the Metrix Consortium won contracts to provide services at St Athan near Cardiff and HMS Sultan, Gosport.
For Welsh Secretary Peter Hain it was "fantastic news". The first of two packages under the deal will see training for 6,500 personnel transferred to the two sites over five years from 2008.
The second, also won by Metrix, will involve training for 4,500 currently spread across 18 sites in the UK.
Soem 10,000 Recruits from the Army, Navy and RAF will all be trained at the academy which aims to be fully operational by 2013.
For Welsh Secretary Peter Hain it was simply "fantastic news".
An artist's impression of how the military academy would look
He said: "These are very high class jobs, permanent jobs for generations to come with a state-of-the-art defence academy bringing all the three forces, RAF, Army and Navy, together and south Wales is the world class facility chosen."He said: "These are very high class jobs, permanent jobs for generations to come with a state-of-the-art defence academy bringing all the three forces, RAF, Army and Navy, together and south Wales is the world class facility chosen."
Chris Bryant - who chaired a group of MPs lobbying for the Metrix bid at St Athan - said the economic benefits would reverberate across south Wales.Chris Bryant - who chaired a group of MPs lobbying for the Metrix bid at St Athan - said the economic benefits would reverberate across south Wales.
'Rank outsiders'
"The impact of the new academy for the valleys and the whole of the Welsh economy will be huge," he said. "It heralds a real resurgence of the Welsh economy."The impact of the new academy for the valleys and the whole of the Welsh economy will be huge," he said. "It heralds a real resurgence of the Welsh economy.
"Eighteen months ago there was no Welsh bid. Twelve months ago we were rank outsiders. It's a real vote of confidence in Wales.""Eighteen months ago there was no Welsh bid. Twelve months ago we were rank outsiders. It's a real vote of confidence in Wales."
An artist's impression of how the military academy would look Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith had been "very confident" St Athan would win the bid.
Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith had been "very confident" the Metrix consortium - the company which bid for the contracts for St Athan - would be awarded the two MoD contracts.
"[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."
Basic training will not be covered but what is known as Phase 2 and 3 training - teaching personnel their trades in areas ranging from aeronautical engineering and communications and information systems.Basic training will not be covered but what is known as Phase 2 and 3 training - teaching personnel their trades in areas ranging from aeronautical engineering and communications and information systems.
RAF St Athan opened in 1938 as a training centre
A new campus will be needed which is likely to employ 4,000 although not all will be new jobs as some will be relocated from existing training establishments around the UK.A new campus will be needed which is likely to employ 4,000 although not all will be new jobs as some will be relocated from existing training establishments around the UK.
We're talking about relocating people from around Britain to reduce the number of training sites that ministry of defence have Military analyst Major Alan Davies
However, it is thought it the base will create 1,500 jobs in the wider economy as well 1,500 construction jobs in order to build it.However, it is thought it the base will create 1,500 jobs in the wider economy as well 1,500 construction jobs in order to build it.
Military analyst Major Alan Davies said: "We're talking about relocating people from around Britain to reduce the number of training sites that ministry of defence have - to provide "tri-service training" for all members of the armed forces.
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 with a series of job cuts and false dawns. But its fortunes recently took a nosedive with a series of job cuts and false dawns.
RAF St Athan opened in 1938 as a training centre In February, 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.
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. Called Project Red Dragon, it aimed to develop a world-class aviation centre, but despite the opening in 2005 of a super-hangar, much of the work went elsewhere.
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, much of the work went elsewhere.
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 pan-forces military training academy.