Impact of Labours St Athan school for mercenaries

 As labour politicians line up to welcome the St Athan school for mercenaries the Echo reports Sat 20th March 2010 that the potential impact of the proposed Defence Technical Academywill be discussed this week by Vale of Glamorgan leaders - they will discuss a "service impact assessment" which recommends continued discussions with Metrix, WAG and MoD! Perhaps they should have done this before they gave planning permission. They haven't even assessed what impact will this have on Welsh culture or language!
 

Hansard ...St. Athan Defence Training College

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales

House of Commons debates, 17 March 2010, 11:30 am

Don Touhig (Islwyn, Labour)

What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on preparations for the construction of the defence training college at St. Athan.

Wayne David (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Wales Office; Caerphilly, Labour)

May I begin by paying tribute to the excellent work that my right hon. Friend has done over a number of years and wish him well in his retirement?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has discussed with the First Minister the significant economic benefits that the defence training college will bring as the single largest defence investment in Wales.

Don Touhig (Islwyn, Labour)

As we celebrate St. Patrick's day, we should all remember, of course, that St. Patrick was a Welshman born in the county of Gwent.

The defence training college will greatly increase the defence footprint in Wales, and will lead to the creation of large numbers of highly paid and highly skilled jobs, but will my hon. Friend confirm whether it is still the Government's policy to allow private companies to buy training packages from what will be a world-class facility?

Wayne David (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Wales Office; Caerphilly, Labour)

I confirm that the Labour Government's policy remains unchanged: bona fide defence organisations will, of course, have the opportunity to use this excellent £12 billion facility. May I also emphasise that this is the single largest defence investment Wales will have ever seen? Labour Members are fully committed to it, and I only wish that Opposition Members were equally committed.

Mark Pritchard (Wrekin, The, Conservative)

If the Government press ahead with the construction of this defence training college, how will Ministers address the fact that a recent survey by the Public and Commercial Services Union suggested that 74 per cent. of civilian instructors will be either unwilling or unable to relocate from Shropshire to Wales because of the difference in house prices?

Wayne David (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Wales Office; Caerphilly, Labour)

The hon. Gentleman is a long-standing and consistent opponent of this exemplary defence establishment, which is most unfortunate. [Interruption.] Labour Members are full-square behind it. We recognise that this will be a huge investment for south Wales. [Interruption.] It will be a massive boost for the Welsh economy, providing thousands of jobs and, most importantly, first-class training for our armed forces.

John Bercow (Speaker)

Order. There are far too many private conversations taking place on both sides of the Chamber. It is very unfair to the Member asking the question and to the Minister answering it.

St Athan military College PFI planning permission was invalid

It seems that the The Environmental Law Foundation think we may have a case as they are offering support to us!

Opponents of St Athan Defence Technical College claim planning permission was invalid

OPPONENTS of the £12bn Defence Technical College at St Athan have called for the planning permission for the development to be withdrawn.

The Cynefin Y Werin (Common Ground) group claim the planning permission granted by the Vale of Glamorgan Council last year was illegal and has now demanded an inquiry into the way the decision was made.

Anne Greagsby, of Cynefin Y Werin, said: “The decision for this major private finance initiative project privatising military training at St Athan was left to the Vale of Glamorgan Council and, in the rush to push this through, they did not follow procedure properly.”

She said a legal notice published by the council earlier this month meant the original planning permission granted last December was invalid.

The public notice said the council had granted planning permission “having taken into account the information contained in the Environmental Impact Assessment accompanying the application”.

The group claims that the four-month gap between planning permission being granted and the public notice invalidated the approval.

But the Vale council countered by saying the proper procedures were followed.

Rob Thomas, the council’s head of planning and transportation, said: “It is acknowledged that there has been a delay between the date of issue of decision and the advertising, but there is no specified time limit within the regulations for such advertising to be undertaken.”

Cosford troops move delayed

1. Midlands Express and Star

Cosford troops move delayed

Monday 15th March 2010, 5:59PM GMT.

Long-awaited plans to move more than 2,500 troops from Germany to RAF
Cosford have been shelved for two years, it emerged today - prompting fears
up to 400 workers could lose their jobs at the air base.

The 102 Logistic Brigade and their families had been due to move in 2016.
But military bosses said it would not now happen until at least 2018.

Defence minister Bill Rammell said RAF Cosford's Defence College of
Aeronautical Engineering, which provides British armed forces training,
would still move to St Athan in Wales from 2014.'

2. Shropshire Star

Mothballing fear over RAF Cosford « Express & Star 

16 Mar 2010 ... RAF Cosford will be “mothballed” and hundreds of staff left with “nothing to do” for years after plans to expand it as a military base were delayed for ... It will leave no military presence at the base currently home to more ... This incompetence is likely to cost up to 400 jobs in Shropshire and ...

www.expressandstar.com/.../mothballing-fear-over-raf-cosford/ - 

Is St Athan project planning permission VALID?

The decision for this major PFI project privatising miliatary training at St Athan which affects all of Wales was left to The Vale of Glamorgan council and in the rush to push this through they did not follow procedure properely and now try to sneak a notice through after the event!!! Sot he decision is illlegal or/and we can seek a judicial review..

There was an unusual notice in the local paper (Glamorgan Gem) last week, dated 4th March.

------------------------------

NOTICE that the VoG Council, as LPA, has determined the following application(s), having taken into account the information contained within the Environmental Impact Assessment accompanying the application(s)

2009/00500/OUT  Land at and adjoining MoD St Athan.....

Development of a Defence Technical College.... including 483 Service Family Accom dwellings....

Approved 1 December, 2009

2009/00501/OUT  Land at and adjoining the Aerospace Business Park at St Athan.....

..together with land at Waycock Cross, Barry

Development at and adjoining the ABP including...  and related highway improvements.

Approved 1 December, 2009

-------------------------------

The reason for the unusual Notice, in that we have pointed out that for so-called EIA-developments: EIA Reg 3(2):  The relevant planning authority or the Secretary of State or an inspector shall not grant planning permission pursuant to an application to which this regulation applies unless they have first taken the environmental information into consideration, and they shall state in their decision that they have done so.

In the Planning Committee reports and decision-making, the VoG made no statement to fulfil the last clause.

Evidently, the VoG are trying to rectify this retrospectively with the above Notice (but it should read "within the Environmental Statement and Further Information" supplied). 

Two questions arise:

•  The Planning Cttee papers/decision didn't "state" it and there was no Meeting on 1 December as given, maybe this public Notice on 4th March counts as the decision date.  That would mean that a judicial review is possible, since the 3-month time limit would run from 4th March.  

•   If the statement is just made by the officers (or Jeff James as executive) and not approved by the Planning Cttee (I can't see it in Minutes from Jan and Feb. meetings) is it valid at all?

Note that under the EIA Amendment Regs 2008, the approval of details with environmental implications require further EIA, involving full consultation of the public and statutory bodies.  These Regs should stop the Council and eg. the Env Agency just agreeing the details between officials.

Think selling out Wales. Think Plaid

Think selling out Wales. Think Plaid!
Have a look at Plaid Cymru manifesto for the 2010 general election!


Where do Plaid stand on the privatisation of military training and bringing disreputable corporations and arms dealers to waler! Like Raythoen - Sodexo and Quineq!   

We call for the immediate implementation of the much delayed (NEW LABOUR) strategic defense review 

Think New Labour. Think Plaid 
Also from the manifesto.

Plaid Cymru also recognises that there is opposition  to the proposed development of the St Athan Defence Training College in the Vale of Glamorgan. We therefore hold reservations and await reassurance that this large amount of public money will be used wisely and carefully to invest in high quality jobs and the local economy.

Think Lies. Think PLAID

Plaid Cymru MPs and AMs have been telling the people of Wales that centralising training at a new college would create 5,000 high quality jobs. 
Now Metrix are talking about 2,200 jobs in security, cleaning and catering   

Although fair play, Jill Evans has also telling her colleagues this for some time. Ieuan Wyn Jones would rather believe Metrix and lie to the Welsh people.

Jill Evans said 

"I have said many times that people in Wales have been misled over the St Athan project and that the job promises were wildly eggagerated. Those of us who have dared to question or oppose the project have been attacked over and over in the press by its supporters who refused to look at anything other than the jobs they claimed would come."

Anti metrix have always said this is about job relocation not job creation.


Think betrayal. Think Plaid. 


How can those of us seeking peace and justice opposing Metrix suceed when the  Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport ..

support for the project is quoted to us from the WAG and the MoD. 

Think Shame Think Plaid

The welsh assembly government didn't call this planning application in contrary to guidelines and with no AMs calling for it or opposing the plans then we are left with an inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders for the military college and aerospace fantasy. 

Just who are representing us the WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT at the inquiry??? With the benefit of a lawyer.  


Brigadier Antony Harking,
Group Captain David Evans
Lt Colonel Johnny wheeler
Captain Robert Rusbriger Royal Navy
Michael Grimmel Sodexo
Paul Vinning 


And a local at last ...Nicky Goodwin Bailey
who came into the WAG from the old WDA and boasts of being the one to start the ball rolling on the military PFI! She was quiet happy to state that there was no assessment of the impact of the effects on Welsh culture or the Welsh language or the impact on S East Wales and on Cardiff especially with regard to policing and NHS. 


She also boasts of being the author of the previous red dragon debacle! Was it 46 jobs created at a cost of about £2.5 million per job!!! Building on failure!?


If we don't want Wales to turn in to a massive military playing field  
for arms dealers and war profiteers and worse a source of cannon fodder then this department should have a massive shake up and be looking away from military sector and the declining aerospace to other areas. We want genuine  high quality jobs which could be created by thinking green jobs. 

NOT 5,000 jobs then!

The consortium behind the scheme, Metrix, has said around 2,200 jobs would be created, most in security, cleaning and catering, with around 800 building workers employed during the the four-year construction period.

As we said all along ....not 5,000 jobs
NO great careers here for children of wales!

First Minister Rhodri Morgan’s new year message 2007 " I hope that construction machinery will move onto the St Athan site to start work on the £5bn military training academy at the end of the year. This will be a major boost for Wales, bringing 5,000 jobs, many of which will be highly skilled."
So wrong!

"http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/12/28/it-s-been-a-knock-out-year-for-joe-and-wales-91466-20292372/!

 

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain was wrong whjen he said its a "tremendous" opportunity adding that the range of jobs created as a result of the military academy would be huge.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6272709.stm

John Smith MP was wrong when talking of  "the 5,000 direct jobs it will create" and for telling staff and children in the Vale of Glamorgan schools of job opportunities that were never there!

BBC report from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8446720.stm

David Cameron yesterday attacked the Government over St Athan plans!

 Why are Plaid so quiet ....no comment or debate?

David Cameron attacks Government over St Athan plans Jan 09 2010

CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron yesterday attacked the Government for not making a clear decision about the future of the proposed £13bn Defence Training College in St Athan ahead of this year’s general election.Read

video of Cameron on wales on line

CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron yesterday attacked the Government for not making a clear decision about the future of the proposed £13bn Defence Training College in St Athan ahead of this year’s general election.

He did not pledge to support the landmark project – predicted to create more than 5,000 jobs – but condemned Labour’s stance as “disingenuous”.

On Thursday, the MoD confirmed the final sign-off would not take place until after the election, meaning the decision may fall to an incoming Conservative government.

Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell said: “Plans have advanced considerably, but the work has exceeded the assumptions made in 2008 and hence the change to when the investment decision will be taken...the project is on track for an investment decision in the summer.”

Mr Cameron said: “We recognise the importance of this project and totally see the logic of bringing together these services. I think the Government is being disingenuous with their announcement.

“They are still the Government and they have had plenty of time to make a decision about this. After all, the Vale of Glamorgan council granted planning permission for the scheme last September.

“We will have a proper strategic defence review if we win the election.”

This drew a fiery response from Labour Rhondda MP Chris Bryant.

What Chris Bryant said

He said: “He’s the man who’s been refusing to sign on the dotted line. He’s the person committed to swingeing cuts.

“He’s the person who’s been saying that in this present year we should be making cuts.”

Mr Bryant was adamant the proposed training centre, which was suggested as a possible target for cuts by Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable last year, would save money.

He said: “It wouldn’t save any money not to do it, which is why I think Vince Cable was so daft when he said what he said and why I think Cameron and the Tories have not understood the situation.”

Mr Cameron also stood by proposals from Conservative members of the Assembly to end universal free prescriptions and free school breakfasts, saying: “This is devolution and it is their decision. By returning to modest prescription charges for those who can afford to pay, Welsh Conservatives will put more money into hospices and stroke services.”

When asked what Conservatives would do to combat binge drinking, he said: “We need to stop the deep discounting of drinks by supermarkets and a thorough reform of the licensing act – we’ll do both.”

He insisted it was also right to reduce the number of MPs, saying: “I think that we should cut the size of the House of Commons by 10% and reduce the cost of politics. After all, we are going to be asking other parts of the public sector to find efficiencies and cost savings so why should politics be any different?

“Clearly, this must apply in Wales as elsewhere.”

Mr Cameron would not rule out taking military action against Iran to stop the country joining the nuclear club.

He said: “We should not rule things out but we must first try dialogue as President Obama is currently doing and if this fails we should implement very tough sanctions. It’s important that all European countries join in these endeavours and that we persuade both the Russians and Chinese that a nuclear armed Iran would be a cause of great instability.”

He also stressed the need to ensure that all the countries taking part in the military effort in Afghanistan fully signed up to a “common strategy and programme”. Mr Cameron strongly denied that measures to cut the deficit would kill off hopes of growth as the country pulls out of the recession.

He said: “I don’t believe that getting to grips with the appalling budget deficit and getting the economy growing are alternatives – one depends on the other. Even the Chancellor admitted that this week.

“If we don’t deal with the deficit the danger is that interest rates, mortgage rates and taxes will all have to rise and that would wreck the recovery.”