ROSYTH councillor Mike Shirkie is seeking talks with the Ministry of Defence to state the case for saving HMS Caledonia.

Last week, the Press backed his call for a campaign to stop the historic naval base from closing in 2022 by calling for a programme of life support on the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, to be carried out at the dockyard.

Cllr Shirkie said there was a “golden opportunity” for the work to be done in the town and now wants to meet with the MoD, Fife Council and Babcock to discuss Caledonia’s future.

He said: “I am hoping to sit down with David Ross and Lesley Laird (Fife Council leader and depute leader) to set up a meeting with the MoD at an appropriate level. 

“Talks would involve Babcock and there are various options we could discuss but we would propose that, through life support for the carriers happening here, the continued need for Caledonia. 

“The plan is to have joined-up thinking with groups that want to keep it open and, if we can sustain full-time support for the carriers here, then the overwhelming argument would be to keep it.

“I haven’t been able to speak to David Ross yet but I plan to try to get a group together for a meeting to look at what’s practical and see where we can go in terms of a strategic view.

"Babcock and the MoD will have a big say but we don’t want to lose a naval presence that’s been here for over 100 years.”

Rosyth’s centenary celebrations last year, and the creation of 500 jobs by Marine Harvest by transforming the former Lexmark building on Admiralty Road into a fish production plant, were hailed by Cllr Shirkie as helping to “put Rosyth back on the map” but he fears closing Caledonia would be a setback for the town.

He continued: “It is such an important part of the community and people don’t want to lose it.

"We are trying to grow the town and put Rosyth back on the map. It started with the centenary year, staging the gala – which is now going to be an annual event – and we’ve got the concert (PKD Festival) coming to the Civil Service Club.

"We want to encourage industry and make Rosyth a place where people want to live and work.

“We’ve had Marine Harvest start up successfully, with 500 jobs at the moment, and we are keen to take forward that momentum. Babcock need to look to the medium-long term and take their workforce forward. 

“There are people in the dockyard who worked there when the Navy ran it and they are keen to see Caledonia stay, and you’ve got the Royal Marine Band, who are an integral part of the community.

“There are jobs at stake and local pride. These are all reasons why we’d like to save it and I would see the closure of Caledonia as a step back in the momentum we’re building in the town.

“David (Ross) is in favour and people are keen to retain it, so we need to build momentum now.”

In November, the UK Government announced that the base would shut in five years’ time, coinciding with the completion of HMS Prince of Wales.