More than 4,000 people have now given their backing to the Press and Journal’s campaign to save the historic Fort George barracks.
The Fight for Fort George initiative has been inundated with support from Highland residents, ex-service personnel and their families, politicians and celebrities such as film star Hugh Grant.
The campaign was launched at the end of June after it emerged the 250-year-old garrison had been earmarked for closure in a Ministry of Defence review.
As of last night, almost 2,000 people had backed our online petition against the move, while more than 1,800 others made their opinions known using the Press and Journal’s cut-out postal petition.
Local MP Drew Hendry revealed yesterday that he and his staff had gathered a further 300 signatures during the weekend, including at the Nairn Highland Games, pushing the total beyond the 4,000 mark.
The Press and Journal and Mr Hendry intend to hand the petition into 10 Downing Street later this week. He said: “When we went around the Nairn Highland Games, people were approaching us to ask to sign the petition.
“It’s clearly something people feel very strongly about. When people are made aware of what it is being proposed, they are appalled.”
Built after the Battle of Culloden, Fort George is owned by the MoD and is currently occupied as an Army barracks 365 days a year, although the site is also operated by Historic Environment Scotland on behalf of Scottish ministers as an all-year visitor attraction.
The base has been home to the famous Black Watch battalion for almost a decade and attracts 55,000 visitors every year.
Studies carried out into its economic impact have revealed that its closure could cost £14million and lead to the loss of 112 jobs.
Actor Hugh Grant, whose grandfather commanded the garrison after World War II, was one of the first to sign the petition, stating he was “horrified” by the proposal to shut it down.
The MoD has insisted that no final decisions have been taken over its future and that the results of its footprint review will be announced this autumn.
