Telford & Wrekin presses case to MoD for new Gateway hub
A DELEGATION of senior councillors from Telford & Wrekin Council has held talks with MPs in a bid to convince the government to choose Telford’s MoD Donnington as the location for its new logistics hub.
The council has been working for the last three years to build strong links with senior staff at the Ministry of Defence in a bid to convince the government to choose the base as the location for the logistics hub, which could be worth £60m a year to the local economy.
Success would mean that more than 1,200 jobs are safeguarded including 700 at the base itself. It could also potentially result in many new jobs being created, especially in the supply chain.
In July, Telford & Wrekin authorised plans to borrow up to £120m to fund vital improvements to land in an attempt to secure the National Defence Gateway scheme.
The council has said the borrowing will only be used if its bid is successful and the money will be used to finance new warehousing and offices on the Donnington site.
This will mean a Fulfilment Centre and associated warehousing for storage and distribution can be constructed, as well as an office building for use as a future logistics headquarters.
Cllr Bill McClements and council director David Sidaway travelled to Westminster to hold talks with Defence Minister Philip Dunne MP.
The delegation was seeking reassurances about the MoD’s commitment to the timescale that has been outlined.
“The lobbying we have done so far has raised the profile of Telford with an extension to the Donnington base being seen as a credible solution which could realise savings for MoD and ensure continuity of military supplies to the front line,” said Cllr McClements, Telford & Wrekin’s cabinet member for Finance and Enterprise.
“The benefits to the borough’s economy would be worth £60m a year and we have worked hard to ensure Telford is in the best possible position to be the most viable solution for the MoD and I am confident we have achieved that.”
The MoD is expected to make its decision on where the National Defence Gateway will be sited in the next few months.
