Reprieve for town's TA base

WARRINGTON’S big Territorial Army base at Peninsula Barracks has won a reprieve, according to local Conservative campaigner David Mowat.
The base’s future was in doubt as a result of Government plans to cut spending on TA training by £20 million, according to the Warrington South Prospective Parliamentary candidate.
He said: “There is a large Territorial Army Base in Warrington and it is good news that it is no longer under threat.
“But Gordon Brown’s embarrassing U-turn cannot undo the damage to morale and trust. The TA plays an important role in our community and nation, and Conservatives will always stand up in support of their invaluable work and service.”
Mr Mowat (right) said the proposed £20 million cuts, announced on October 15, was in addition to cuts of £23 million earlier in the year. They represented a third of the TA’s annual budget and would have wiped out training for tens of thousands of Territorials.
He said since 2002, some 20,000 reservists had seen active service in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans, most of them from the TA. Fourteen Territorials have given their lives.
Today some 550 Territorials are still serving on the front-line in Afghanistan. Others are serving in the Balkans and other places across the globe.
Mr Mowat said: “Through good times and bad, the Territorial Army has given this country a proud century of service. Thanks to Conservative pressure, Gordon Brown has been forced to abandon his damaging and ill-thought out plans to cut TA training. Common sense has prevailed.”