Defence Secretary In First Visit To Closing Base

Sir Michael Fallon has met with Royal Marines based in Chivenor after it was announced that their base in Devon will close in the next decade.

It's the first visit by the defence secretary since 91 base closures were announced across the UK last November.

It's all part of a bid to reassure both the Royal Marines based here and the local community. 

Last November the Better Defence Estate strategy earmarked the base for closure in 2027, part of 3 billion pounds of cost-saving measures by the MOD. It means 12 hundred personnel and their families are on the move.

Chivenor has been home to the armed forces since the 1940's.

First the RAF and then later the Royal Marines – it's now the base for the Commando Logistic Regiment and 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers.

Member of the local community have said they are extremely worried about the closure of this base.

First of all, they'll miss the military personnel based in the area and they'll also be a huge economic impact for North Devon.

So Mr Fallon met with politicians today to discuss how that could be mitigated.