Army basing in North East

People in Ripon fear the closure of the nearby Claro Barracks will kill their community.

Many of the people living there are from military backgrounds and have settled in the area.

At Holy Trinity Church of England School 26% of students are from military families. The head teacher says she fears it will have an impact on the school.

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• armed forces
• Catterick Garrison

Speaking to ITV News, the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond did not rule out further cuts to the defence budget. But he said the Government would aim to limit any reductions.

It follows his suggestion at the weekend that the government may look to cuts in the welfare budget instead.

• UK
• Army
• Ministry of Defence

There has been a furious reaction from the local community after the Government announced that Ripon's Claro Barracks will be one of four to close in order to upgrade seven others.

The Army base shakeup has come as efforts are made to accommodate the return of all troops from Germany over the next few years.

Catterick Garrison is one of the seven bases which will be expanded under the new plans.

As Rachel Bullock reports, it is bittersweet news for North Yorkshire.

Watch her full report below.

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• armed forces
• Catterick Garrison

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond accepts an invitiation to visit Ripon by local MP Julian Smith. And he says talks will be held locally to ensure the smooth disposal of the site.

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• Catterick
• armed forces

Julian Smith, the MP for Skipton and Ripon, says the closure of Claro Barracks in Ripon is a sad day for the city. He has asked Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to accompany him on a vist to the area to see for himself what effect the loss woud have.

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• Catterick
• armed forces

Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy says the historic bond between the army battalions and the towns where they have been stationed will be broken by the closure of four barracks. Mr Murphy claimed the Government had only succeeded in creating a great deal of cynicism in the Armed Forces.

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• Army
• Ministry of Defence

A shake-up of Army bases to speed up the return of of all troops from Germany will mean the disposal of seven sites across the country, including one in North Yorkshire.

Carlo Barracks in Ripon is to go, although there is good news for Catterick Garrison, also in North Yorkshire, where further investment is to be made at the base. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the changes would save £240 million a year in running costs .

Around 11,000 British troops based in Germany will return home by 2016 under plans which will see nearly £2 billion invested in Army housing and bases. The remaining 4,500 troops will be back in the UK by 2019, a year earlier than planned.

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• Catterick
• armed forces

The MP for Skipton and Ripon has expressed his disappointment at the Ministry of Defence’s proposals to close Claro Barracks in Ripon, which currently houses 21 Engineer Regiment and 15 Field Squadron (Search).

Ripon has a proud military history and the City has always given the servicemen and women, and their families, who are based here the warmest of welcomes. I pay tribute to the City Council, Cathedral, Harrogate Borough Council and the many other people and organisations who have provided this support.

“During the First World War, Ripon accommodated 30,000 soldiers as one of the main centres for the organisation of troops being sent to and returning from the Front. Ripon was also where the great war poet Wilfred Owen wrote many of his most famous works.

I will be meeting Defence Ministers and doing all I can to ensure that those currently based in Ripon and affected by this decision are given all the support possible. I will also be discussing how we deal with the impact the decision will have on the wider community and economy.

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• Catterick
• armed forces

During his Army career, Sergeant Ben Peden has spent 7 years in Germany. But he said the time was right for troops to head back to Britain.

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• Army
• Ministry of Defence