Monmouth MP disappointed at recruitment centre closure plan (From Free Press Series)

Monmouth MP David Davies disappointed at recruitment centre closure plan

4:30pm Sunday 10th February 2013 in News

MONMOUTH MP David Davies said he was very concerned about the planned closure of the Abergavenny Army recruitment centre and described the decision by the Ministry of Defence(MoD) as "very disappointing."

An Army spokesman confirmed to the Argus the Abergavenny office will close at the end of this month, leaving the centre in Newport as Gwent’s only recruitment base.

He said: We are in the process of closing the Abergavenny centre.

"From next month anyone who requires information will need to go to Newport, or use our website."

Mr Davies, said: "It’s very disappointing the Abergavenny recruitment office is going to close.

"I was in the TA 20 years ago myself and the Army is a fantastic career opportunity for young people.

"But it is not a career you can just research on the internet. You really need to sit down and talk with someone about it and to think it through very carefully.

"From my experience it is a very different experience from what you might expect having just watched the TV adverts !"

The Abergavenny office is set to be one of multiple closures across Wales and the rest of the UK.

The move comes as the Army is set to axe 20,000 full-time soldiers as recommended in last year’s Strategic Defence Review, but will be recruiting reservists to boost that force to around 30,000 by 2020.

Army recruitment has been handed over to Capita Plc who won a recent contract to provide the service.

An MoD spokesperson said: "The Army is still recruiting and people are increasingly using websites and social media to look for Regular and Territorial Army careers.

"Online applications are rising so the requirement for recruitment offices is declining, but we will maintain our mobile and high street presence so that young people can still speak to uniformed personnel."