Unity call ahead of army barracks switch

City chiefs have been urged to work with the governments at Holyrood and Westminster to ensure that a proposed new army base benefits the Capital.

Council officials believe that the closure of the Redford and Dreghorn barracks and the Craigiehall army headquarters could be good for the city, as the site of the new “super barracks” near Kirknewton falls within the Edinburgh city boundary.

It means that the number of army personnel based in Edinburgh will actually increase from 1400 to between 1700 and 1900 when the new base becomes operational in 2016-17.

A motion passed at full council, tabled by Tory councillor Jason Rust, calls on the council, the Scottish Government and the UK government to “work together constructively for the benefit of both the army and civilian communities in the areas affected by this decision”.