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.”

DTR Non announcement

DTR - Non Announcement

Published by Cheryl under Cosford, MoD

Yesterday the Shropshire Star had the following to say about the defence debate in the house of commons:

Thursday the 9th of October was another “non announcement” on the future of Package 1 DTR from the Minister for the Armed Forces Bob Ainsworth. Local MP’s Mark Pritchard both asked questions during the debate, an ad hoc version is below. Of interest was the fact that none of the Welsh MP’s made any comment.”PCS Branch Official H O’Harney at Cosford said “The news that further delays in the programme did not come as a shock to the staff at Cosford, they have been waiting for years to have clarification on their futures .The MoD seem hell bent on moving to Wales at all cost and the sooner the National Audit Office or Publics Account Committee review this programme the better since PCS are still skeptical that DTR is affordable. A £12 billion PFI carrying on in this current finacial crisis seems ridiculous given the risks and affordability issues. Our members at Cosford have made it clear that they have no intention to move Wales and the risk to the training of the Armed Forces is still real. It would appear that the MoD want to privatise at all cost despite the huge risks”

The response to a question, by the astute MP Mark Pritchard, Mr. Ainsworth: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has a national interest too, but he has a particular interest in this matter and, obviously, he pursues it. I am not saying that the costs have not changed. I am saying that we still have an affordable package that is far cheaper than the alternatives, and that has been worked on over the summer. We will be able to go ahead with defence package 1 and get value for money out of those proposals…..

This is another first for the DTR programme in suggesting that the “fallback posistion” is more expensive than the proposed move to St Athan !! No wonder the Department needs to give Metrix another six months grace to rearrange costings to fit. It is also of note that in the preamble issued to staff that the MoD have stated that the sale of additional sites plays no part in enabling the move to ahead. Strangely in their own Risk Assessment which was featured in the Private Eye magazine, this was one the MoD’s identified risks. The fact that the DTR IPT can try to spin another 6 month delay is a positive message to all the staff is ludicrous !! PCS will continue to campaign against this looming financial disaster.

St Athan Deal collapsing?

TEXTBOOK BUNGLING
Desperate for cash, the Government sells it's remaining stake in defence research firm QinetiQ for a knockdown £257million in a depressed market. So ends the saga of incompetence that has robbed taxpayers of countless millions, while vastly enriching a handful of former civil servants. Somebody should write a history of this Government's handling of QinetiQ as a textbook for whelk-stall owners on how not to run business.

Credit Crunch Affects £11 bn( or is it £12bn) contract

The Daily Mail has now picked up on the effects that the current credit crunch is having on the proposed Defence Training Review (DTR) contract: By Karl West see here

Credit Crunch hits £11bn Forces deal after development land value plummets

By KARL WEST All By This Author - 12/09/2008

A controversial £11bn contract to provide training to Britain's armed forces is in danger of collapsing as a result of the credit crunch.

The QinetiQ-led Metrix Consortium, which also includes property firm Land Securities and American engineer Raytheon, is preferred bidder on the giant Defence Training Rationalisation deal.

Metrix won the contract back in January 2007 with a plan to slash the Ministry of Defence’s training estate from 30 sites to about ten, with a main campus at St Athan in South Wales.

It had planned to keep costs low by selling off the unwanted land and buildings to either housebuilders or commercial property developers.

However, the value of development land has plummeted since the contract was awarded as the credit crunch has frozen the market.

It is thought the cost of the training proposal has rocketed by £1bn to £12bn, as debt is more expensive and Metrix’s ability to offset rising costs with land sales has diminished.

One senior industry source said: ‘DTR is in trouble. We know that for a fact because they (Metrix) can’t afford it. QinetiQ went for the big bang with the property deals but the value of that property is no longer worth what it was since the credit crunch.’

It is understood the MoD is scheduled to meet next week with the consortium, which is due to present its ‘new financial model’.

The ministry insisted it remains ‘fully committed’ to delivering the project at St Athan, but admitted it is still in discussions with the consortium about how it is going to fund its training plans without compromising the scope of the project.

The MoD said: ‘A contributory factor adding to the complexity (of talks) has been the impact of the increased cost of borrowing and cost growth. Negotiations with Metrix are ongoing and both parties are working hard to drive down costs and obtain maximum value for money for the taxpayer.’

Metrix declined to comment. The decision to award the huge deal to QinetiQ (up 1/4p at 2141/4p) caused uproar because, at that time, the Government was the defence firm’s biggest shareholder with 19%.

However, the holding was sold for £257m this week.

Sham St Athan Consultation

Latest articles from Shropshire Star at http://www.pcsshropshire.selfip.org/newspage/

‘Outrageous’ tax avoidance by PFIs must stop, says MP
A WELSH MP will bid to change the law today to force firms that build schools, roads and hospitals to pay tax in the UK.more
http://email.icnetwork.co.uk/re?l=bksxz7I38m1qogImViews on St Athan plans sought

WalesOnline - NEW round of public consultations on the multi-billion pound Defence Training Academy at St Athan will be held this month. The Defence Technical Academy ...

The exhibitions at St Athan, Cowbridge and Llantwit are mentioned in the B&DN Press Advert (not in the Gem!) but not the prior event for "Key Stakeholders" on Mon 14 July 18.00-19.30 at St Athan Methodist Church 'Gathering Place', Flemingston Rd.Attached is the report circulated for it and presumably available at the exhibitions (Tues/Wed-St Athan, Thurs-Cowbridge, Fri-Llantwit).Monday's event has a presentation and questions to Metrix, WAG and MoD reps. The organisers Camargue Group Ltd seem flexible
invite.enquiries@st-athanconsultation.co.uk
Phone - 0845 618 0016; website still being set up.

Note the name change to Defence Technical Academy, instead of Training - agreed in the last 2 weeks!


ST ATHAN –
Home of the Defence Technical Academy and Aerospace Park – FAQ, June 2008


THE SCHEME

Where is the proposed site?
MOD St Athan is located in the Vale of Glamorgan close to the village of St Athan. The site is owned by the Welsh Assembly Government and is currently used for a range of MOD training and commercial and aerospace operations. St Athan has always been used to provide training for MOD personnel since it was first acquired by the RAF in 1938 and has been an integral part of the community for more than 70 years.


What will be delivered?
The redevelopment will chiefly consist of a new Defence Technical Academy, with associated housing and facilities, and an Aerospace Business Park.

With a commitment to technological innovation and a dynamic approach to training delivery the Defence Technical Academy will provide training for up to 4,500 students at any one time specialising in aeronautical and electro mechanical engineering, and communications/IT disciplines. The Aerospace Business Park will attract businesses involved in both civilian and military work and will further strengthen the region’s existing track record in aerospace expertise.

Who will deliver the project?
The redevelopment of MOD St Athan brings together a number of parties, primarily Metrix, the Welsh Assembly Government and the MOD.

Raytheon Systems Limited- The Metrix consortium combines the best in technical knowledge, ... The Metrix Solution –Building a World-Class Defence Training Academy ...www.raytheon.co.uk/products/dtr.html - 18k -

In 2007, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the Metrix Consortium had been selected as the MOD’s Preferred Bidder for the delivery of the Defence Technical Academy. Metrix, a special purpose company that is a 50/50 joint venture between the defence and technology research group QinetiQ and leading British property development and investment company Land Securities Trillium, has extensive experience in delivering projects of this scope and scale. (shhh! don't mention Raytheon arms dealers, Serco?)

The redevelopment of St Athan is being undertaken in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government, which is promoting the development of the Aerospace Business Park and providing major new infrastructure for the entire development.


Why do we need to redevelop St Athan?
Currently, specialist training in aeronautical, electro mechanical engineering and communication/IT disciplines takes place at nine different sites across the UK producing some of the world’s best trained military personnel. The Metrix vision will see the Defence Technical Academy building on this success by creating a single training facility of international standing.

The Defence Technical Academy will bring training, for each of the services; Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, together in one location for the first time. The benefits of this are considerable and will ensure that UK military personnel continue to receive the very best training available, whilst bringing together each of the services in one location will mean further benefits in terms of efficiency and shared learning.


Furthermore, the existing site, specifically East Camp, is currently under utilised with many of the buildings at the end of their economic life or in need of significant investment.

St Athan is also a strategically important asset with an operational runway and as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s support programme for the aerospace sector is being developed as an Aerospace Business Park.


ABOUT THE PROJECT

What would the Defence Technical Academy look like?
The design and construction of the Technical Academy will be of a high design standard. The former DARA Super Hangar will also be an integral part, ensuring that this recently built facility continues to be used appropriately.

What will the Aerospace Business Park comprise?
Part of the existing airfield site will be redeveloped as an Aerospace Business Park, which will accommodate a number of businesses primarily engaged in commercial and military aerospace activities.

The Aerospace Business Park will complement the training academy as well as becoming a centre for excellence in its own right building upon South Wales’ existing aerospace expertise.

How will the construction process be managed?
A number of measures would be introduced to ensure that any disruption to the local community during construction is kept to a minimum. These include minimising any construction traffic at night and only using specified, pre-agreed routes into the site.


EMPLOYMENT & THE ECONOMY

What local employment opportunities will there be?
The Technical Academy will result in the creation of a number of new jobs. The construction phase will also generate further employment opportunities for the local community and the wider Vale of Glamorgan. The Aerospace Business Park has the potential to provide some 2,000 further jobs for the area together with significant training opportunities through local universities, colleges and training providers. Jobs created by the Technical Academy, together with the trainees attending, would result in an annual multi million pound injection into the local/regional economy.

How can businesses become involved with the redevelopment of St Athan?
The St Athan team is already engaged in discussions with a number of local and regional suppliers and would be pleased to hear from any business that feels it has an offering that would be beneficial in the redevelopment of St Athan – see contact details below.


TRANSPORT

How will traffic be managed?
Improvement works including new accesses and enhancements to Eglwys Brewis Road, St Athan Junction, the B4265 road at Gileston/Old Mill and Waycock Cross roundabout will help ensure the road network is able to cope with any increase in traffic at peak times. Planning applications will include proposals for routing and mitigation measures for construction traffic generated by the development proposals. A Green Travel Plan will also be introduced that that will include a number of measures to reduce car usage, such as encouraging site personnel to use public transport.


How is public transport provision being considered?
A full transport assessment will be undertaken to assess the likely need for any enhancements to the existing public transport network and ensure appropriate provision is made.


THE ENVIRONMENT

What is being done to preserve the local ecology of the site and the surrounding area?
A comprehensive series of measures will be implemented to ensure that the effects on wildlife are minimised and new habitats provided will be of the highest standards. A series of new ponds have already been created and will provide a haven for wildlife and an ideal habitat for the existing population of great crested newts.


What other measures will be taken to minimise environmental impact?
The developers intend to build a high quality development, with appropriate landscaping, in keeping with the character of the location and which will be taken forward, as far as possible, on sustainable development principles. To this end, a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment is being undertaken. To help meet energy needs in a sustainable manner, the proposed development will include an Energy Centre incorporating a bio-mass generator that would be fuelled in part by wood chips, reducing carbon emissions for the technical academy by between 30 and 60 per cent per annum. In addition to this, a series of environmental policies will be adopted, with one of the most comprehensive recycling and composting schemes of any modern development. On site water retention will be introduced to control surface run-off and a waste minimisation strategy will see rubble from the demolition phase being re-used as building materials and in the landscaping of the site.


HOUSING

Will new houses be built in St Athan and will new facilities be provided?
Up to 550 houses will be built to provide family accommodation for personnel during their stay. Design will be of a high standard that will complement the local area. A number of potential sites in and around the area are being considered and assessed in terms of their suitability.

Retail, leisure, medical, sports and recreational facilities will be provided for site personnel to ensure that no additional burden is placed on existing services within the community. In addition, it is anticipated that some of these facilities will be made available to the public at certain times.


CONSULTATION

Do the views of the public really count?
This is a genuine process of consultation and we consider every comment that is made. Comments made during the course of previous consultation exercises have already influenced the emerging plan and we will continue to listen as we move forward together.

What happens next?
Between now and the proposed submission of a planning application in Spring 2009, there will be an ongoing programme of consultation including the distribution of newsletters, a regularly updated web-site, workshops and a series of public exhibitions. The first phase of consultation will take place in July 2008 and will help inform the topics for the workshops that will take place later in the year. If the planning application is approved, and following financial close, construction work could start in early 2010 with completion of the technical academy by 2014.


How can the public get involved?
As well as a series of public exhibitions, there will also be a programme of workshops that will begin later in the year. Dates for the first phase of exhibitions have already been confirmed and these will be used to help identify topics for the workshops. In addition, a dedicated telephone number, e-mail address and freepost address have been set up. These can be used to ask questions, pass on comments or simply raise issues the public feel we need to be aware of. Details as follows:

- Email - enquiries@st-athanconsultation.co.uk
- Phone - 0845 618 0016
- Address - Camargue Group Ltd, Freepost RRKG-AZTG-JLJX,
St Athan Consultation
Eagle Tower,
Montpellier Drive
Cheltenham, GL50 1TA

-ENDS-

The Metrix Consortium
St Athan Academy will be a private facility operated by the Metrix Consortium, which is a joint venture company of Land Securities Trillium and Qinetiq, in partnership with other sub-contracting companies: AgustaWestland, City & Guilds, Currie & Brown, Dalkia, EDS, Laing O’Rourke, Nord Anglia, Raytheon, Serco, Sodexho and the Open University. The Metrix business model for maximising its profits at St Athan is to maximise the amount of training it provides, through serving not just the British military but militaries all over the world. “The only winners in the privatisation of defence training,” says Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, “are the shareholders of the Metrix Consortium.”

More information on EDSEDS coporate incompetanceEDS contract slammed by union chief Mark Serwotka PCS

Last minute consultation sham

Views on St Athan plans sought WalesOnline -

A NEW round of public consultations on the multi-billion pound Defence Training Academy at St Athan will be held this month. The Defence Technical Academy ...See all stories on this topic
Too little too late in the holiday period when many are away and with little notice and without consulting in n Cardiff - useless

Raytheon 9 Solidarity

A Show of Solidarity with the Raytheon 9!
Stop the St Athan Military Academy Campaign, supported by Cardiff Stop the War Coalition, Cardiff CAAT and other peace groups gathered on 27th May at Transport House, Cardiff .



Raytheon - banned by Liverpool Council, the Norwegian and Belgian government, manufacturer of cluster bombs and lethal weapons are a key part of the new, privatised UK Military Academy being built in Wales.By welcoming Raytheon, our politicians are complicit with war crimes.Rhodri Morgan, First Minister of Wales has defended Raytheon and attacked anti-war campaigners as liars.

for more videos see here

Look who’s watching!

western-mail-letters

SIR – The security implications of the Metrix military training academy coming to St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan have not been admitted by its supporters.
Since personnel and the academy buildings would be potential targets for terrorist attack, high levels of surveillance and security are to be anticipated.

It is, however, a surprise that anti-Metrix campaigners are already being given this treatment. At the anti-Metrix demonstration in Cardiff on Saturday, the Met’s special surveillance unit from London was openly photographing participants.

People travelling to Llantwit Major for leafleting in the town (announced on the website) were met off the train by half-a- dozen police officers. A person posting leaflets around the doors in St Athan was followed around by a uniformed policeman.

Phone tapping appears included, judging by a police car waiting in a car park after people arranged by phone to meet there.

As Blair’s support for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan made England a target for terrorist attacks, so did new laws and police surveillance become necessary. Let’s recognise that the Metrix academy would take Wales further into the US military axis and bring military-style surveillance to the Vale of Glamorgan.

Max Wallis Penarth

Police crack down hard as St Athan demo finally awakens mass media Indymedia UK - Sat 26 April police invoked the public order act to minimise the visibility of the demonstration against the St Athan military academy. ...

Partners..Notorious Blackwater and Raytheon, will there friends be working with them at St Athan?

Blackwater and Raytheon reveal prototype “survivable” Humvee

By John Chadwell Blackwater USA and Raytheon unveiled a prototype six-passenger Joint Light Tactical Vehicle at the US Special Operations Industry Conference in Tampa, Fla., on May 21, revealing their teamed-up effort to build a survivable, ...Hunt of the Sea Wolves - http://huntoftheseawolves.net/blog

North Wales Pension Funds linked to weapons trade

North Wales pension funds linked to weapons trade Daily Post - Llandudno Junction,UK Examples will be given from the campaign against the planned St Athan Military Academy in south Wales, and to persuade Gwynedd council to dis-invest from ...

A public meeting is scheduled in Capel Salem, Caernarfon, at 7.30pm on Friday organised by the Arfon Peace and Justice Group entitled: ‘Wales – a country without militarism?’ Wales MEP Jill Evans, chair of CND Cymru, and a representative of CAAT are billed as speakers. The meeting will discuss whether it is possible to persuade the political parties to make Wales a country without arms and a military.