AN MP claims moving a brigade headquarters from York to Catterick Garrison is a “waste of public money” and has written to the defence minister.

York Central MP Hugh Bayley has written to Defence Minister Mark Francois to question the proposal to move the headquarters of 15 (North East) Brigade from Imphal Barracks in York to Catterick Garrison. The proposals involve merging it with the headquarters of the 4th (Mechanised) Brigade based in the garrison to create a new Adaptable Forces Brigade HQ.

The MP says the move would waste public funds, as there is sufficient space at Imphal Barracks to provide high-quality accommodation for the new brigade and the 1st Division which is based there.

He says the Catterick accommodation would be in need of a costly upgrade and refurbishment and a new communication system would also be needed.

Hugh Bayley MP said: “It would be a shocking waste of public money to spend millions of pounds upgrading new accommodation when there is already suitable accommodation at Imphal Barracks in York to house both the Adaptable Force Brigade and the Headquarters 1st Division.”