Food for thought at army camp (From This is Hampshire)

Food for thought at army camp

8:58pm Wednesday 31st October 2007

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THE FUTURE of Worthy Down Army base hanging in the balance for nearly a year is looking "more promising."

That's the view of Group Captain Sue Bonell, commander of Worthy Down, as military chiefs are considering re-locating the Defence Food Services School (DFSS) there.

This would mean a continued military presence on at least part of the site if the regimental headquarters of the Royal Adjutant's Corps and the Staff and Personal Training School move to South Wales as proposed.

The DFSS, which trains up to 1,200 service chefs a year, is currently based at St Omer Barracks in Aldershot.

Group Captain Bonell said military chiefs had carried out a feasibility study on the possible move.

She said: "This would be very good news for Worthy Down and for Winchester."

Last January, Worthy Down lost out on a bid for a £100m super campus for tri-service training which went instead to St Athan in South Wales.

The consortium Metrix, which will provide military training, plans to move the Staff and Personnel Training School to St Athan.

Under its plans, the Adjutant's General Corps, including its band, recruitment and training unit, would also re-locate there by 2011.

But the Ministry of Defence has said until "affordability" issues are resolved there is no certainty the plans will go ahead.

According to a ministerial announcement last week, the MoD is still considering "a range of options" over where to site training for logistics, personnel administration, police, guarding, languages and photography.

Meanwhile training will continue on existing sites for the forseeable future, including Worthy Down.

There are about 1,200 employees at Worthy Down, including 400 military staff, 200 civil servants and 600 private contractors working for the MoD.

Group Captain Bonell said: "It is very frustrating for our staff because yet again it is more uncertainty. However it is looking more promising about the Defence Food Services School."

* The Army famously marches on its stomach and chefs in the Royal Logistics Corps feed everyone from raw recruits to royalty.

They are trained to make meals in barracks and field kitchens.

Civilian and military instructors teach both basic chef and higher culinary skills as well as pastry making, ration supplies and man management.

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