Wrexham MP told future of Hightown Barracks ‘positive’ despite ongoing review

Wrexham’s MP has been told the future of Hightown Barracks ‘looks positive’ after pressing the Ministry of Defence for assurances over the historic base.

The reserve centre was, until recently, home to 101 Battalion Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME), but the unit has now been transferred to Keynsham, near Bristol, as part of an ongoing restructure of the British Army.

The unit’s departure, announced in 2017, raised concerns over the MoD’s plans for Hightown and led to a campaign to keep it open, spearheaded by Wrexham MP Ian Lucas and local Labour councillors Graham Rogers (Hermitage), Brian Cameron (Whitegate) and Paul Jones (Maesydre).

Now, in a letter from the MoD, Mr Lucas has been told there are plans to increase the presence of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh, at Hightown, something he considers a step in the right direction.

The letter, from Defence Minister Tobias Elwood, reads: “Our aspiration is to increase local recruitment to grow the current platoon to company size. Given the area’s relationship with the Army and local population, it will be disappointing if around 100 new reservists could not be recruited.”

Mr Elwood said there were ‘no plans’ to close the reserve centre, adding that ‘the future looks positive’. He did, however, say that a long-term review of the Defence Estate was continuing.

Reacting to the news, Mr Lucas said: “While it was disappointing not to receive a cast-iron assurance over the future of Hightown Barracks, it is encouraging to know there are plans to swell the numbers of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh.

“This sounds like an effective use of the site, which is what I have been calling for over the past two years.

“The current UK Government has a track record of trying to take jobs and services away from Wrexham, and I have opposed such plans at every step.

“In the case of the barracks, we have a long and proud military history in Wrexham and it would be criminal to lose a site as useful as Hightown. I have made this point very clear to the UK Government and the Ministry of Defence at every stage and will continue to do so.”

The decision to up the numbers of The Royal Welsh at Hightown was welcomed by councillors Graham Rogers, Brian Cameron and Paul Jones.

Cllr Rogers said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the news. He is working with Offa Community Council and the technical college over plans to erect a permanent monument on the green outside the barracks, marking the site’s significance.

Cllr Cameron said: “I would like to thank the people of Wrexham for all their help and support in helping achieve our aim – the retention of Hightown Barracks.”

Cllr Jones added: “As an Armed Forces veteran it was disheartening to witness a REME unit, which provided opportunities for people in Wrexham, disappear across the border to England. However, the recent decision to expand a Royal Welsh platoon up to company strength is very welcome news and should help to secure a future for Hightown Barracks.”

In 2017, the local councillors and Mr Lucas gathered about 2,000 signatures on a petition calling for the Government to retain the 101 REME unit in Wrexham.

Hightown Barracks has been in use since 1877. It was home to the Denbighshire Hussars during the First World War and was also used by a commando unit during the Second World War