Councillor Nigel Knowles (Franche and Habberley North) yesterday gave a petition to Wyre Forest MP, Mark Garnier. The petition calls on the Government to reverse their plans for the closure of Kidderminster Territorial Army Centre (TAC). Cllr Knowles handed Mark Garnier MP the petition during a flag flying ceremony on Monday 23rd June 2015, organised by Wyre Forest district council in honour of our Armed Forces.
Whilst the government is fully committed to strengthening the reservist resource, TA groups with fewer than 28 members are under threat. Kidderminster's Shrubbery TA Centre has just 24. However, the Shrubbery is home to a number of other resources, including a veterans' club and the future of these resources is, so far, unclear.
Mark Garnier MP said, "Councillor Knowles has put in a huge amount of work in raising awareness about the closure and I'm very grateful to him, as I know many others are. The petition he started has really shown that those who have served or who are prepared to serve for Queen and Country are held in high regard in Wyre Forest.
I am taking the petition to Julian Brazier MP, Minister for Reservists, to ask him to review the proposed closure and to provide more clarity over the future of the Shrubbery. This petition will certainly go a long way in showing the Minister that the proposed closure affects many more than our 24 reservists."