Councillor expresses 'concern' as West Cross Army Reserve Centre listed for sale

A call to retain the 1998 Squadron in West Cross has been launched, as the Army Reserve Centre is listed for sale.

Cllr Myles Langstone and Francesca O'Brien, candidate for Gower and the Commanding Officer of the 1998 Squadron, have said that they are organising a meeting with the Defence Minister to discuss the potential selling of the Territorial Army (TA) Centre.

"It's very concerning to see that the site of the TA Centre in West Cross has been listed for sale. This raises a lot of questions but particularly for the future of the 1998 Squadron and other forces personnel who are based there," Cllr Langstone wrote in a Facebook post.

"Therefore, both I and Francesca O'Brien for Gower, who is Commanding Officer of the 1998 Squadron, are organising a meeting with the Defence Minister to discuss this further and to support the future of the 1998 Squadron."

The two have created an online form for people to sign in support of retaining the 1998 Squadron in West Cross.

The land where the TA Centre is located has been listed for sale with Cardiff-based real-estate agency, Avison Young. Offers have been invited on a Conditional or Unconditional basis.

"To say that I am extremely sad to see that the TA Centre (land) in West Cross on Mumbles road is currently on the open market for offers to sell," Ms O'Brien wrote in a Facebook post responding to the listing of the TA Centre for sale.

"Many of you know that I am the proud Commanding Officer of one of the Squadrons which parades here. The size and of course, it's desirable location would appeal to many developers.

"I am pretty sure our neighbours in West Cross would rather see the Armed/Cadet Forces stay there.

"This Centre has played a massive part in my life for over 16 years and has seen many cadets and staff achieve many outstanding opportunities and qualifications and to think our time is limited there, is very unsettling."

For more information about the call to retain the 1998 Squadron, click here.

For information about the land for sale, click here.