A PETITION is being set up against a controversial decision to axe Kidderminster’s Territorial Army (TA) base as part of a major shake-up of UK armed forces.

The Birmingham Road centre is one of 38 military bases set to close under controversial Government reforms announced by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.

Labour Wyre Forest councillor Nigel Knowles, who is a joint Wyre Forest Armed Forces Champion along with Conservative Nikki Gale, said the closure of the centre would be a “major loss” for the town, adding he would be setting up an online petition within the next week.

“What I would like to do is try to work together with people who would be prepared to oppose the closure of the TA centre,” Mr Knowles said. “I’m very opposed to the closure. I think it’s a very backwards step. It’s taking an upfront building from the public gaze and therefore people won’thave a place to go. It’s always been a very, very goodrecruitment centre.”

He added: “The running of the TA centre in Kidderminster is really not an expensive undertaking to keep on a year-to-year basis, in that it’s been rebuilt in the last 20 years and is in good condition. There isn’t really a great financial reason for closing it.”

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier said he had been in talks with Mark Francois, the Minister of State for Defence Personnel, who had offered to visit the site.

He added: “I’m sorry it’s going. With anything that’s taken away from Kidderminster my instinct is that it’s abadthing.

“However, the other side of this is that this is a militarily important thing and it’s making sure that the resources we have as a country are best deployed.”

Mr Garnier said he would support Mr Knowles’ petition, adding he had been trying to get as much information as possible about the centre from the commanding officer but had yet to get hold of him.

“There’s no party politics in supporting our community,” he added. “If [Mr Knowles] wants me to take the petition to the Secretary of State I’m very happy to organise that for him.”

People can get further information about the petition by emailing nigelknowlesbewdley@hotmail.com