Name change for barracks

The announcement of the choice of Beacon Barracks came as the MoD announced proposals to boost the base with additional armed forces.

And it signalled its strongest hint to date that both the Beaconside base and RAF Cosford could be part of a West Midlands super-garrison as soldiers return to Britain from Germany.

New Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said the MoD was looking at a number of options that would consolidate the Army's presence at the former RAF Stafford site.

There are plans for the relocation of other cadet units to Stafford and officials are considering the feasibility of making it home to 35 Signal Regiment – a TA unit affiliated to 22 Signal Regiment, which has kept the base alive since the death knell on storage and distribution operations was sounded last year.

The site is also being considered as a temporary location for vehicle storage, as a potential base for elements of 1 Signal Brigade and 102 Logistic Brigade who may return from Germany to the UK, and the headquarters of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

Mr Ainsworth unveiled the new name of the base and the long list of possible facelifts during a debate on MoD Stafford at Westminster last night, secured by Stafford MP David Kidney.

The minister said: "There is no doubt that the West Midlands is one of the areas with the potential to develop a super-garrison. Our requirements for land at Beacon Barracks have changed, but our need for the estate has not.

"Beacon Barracks features very much in our plans for the future. We will continue to work closely with the local community and other interested parties as our plans mature," he added.

Mr Kidney said he supported the choice of the new name which he described as "fitting with regards to the area's history, heritage and geographical place of the base in the town".

"As for the future, it sounds very exciting with a number of options on the table. It tells us that the base does have a secure future and I think that is very reassuring," he added.

Beacon Barracks emerged the favourite among names of famous generals and war leaders of the past, including Churchill, because of its background and relevance to the Royal Signals.

Beaconside is so-named because of the use of the nearby hill as a signalling beacon since Tudor times.

Mr Kidney had obtained the debate in order to thank the minister's predecessor Adam Ingram for ensuring that the military base at Stafford would have a secure future.