MoD plan to move staff to Bristol

The MoD has announced plans to move staff to Abbey Wood in Bristol

Plans to move 1,600 Ministry of Defence civil service posts from Bath to Bristol have been announced.

The MoD is proposing that by 2012 all the acquisition activities of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) should be centralised in Bristol.

DE&S is responsible for procurement, maintenance and support of military equipment to the Armed Forces.

The MoD is in consultation with unions about moving staff from Lansdown, Foxhill and Warminster Road in Bath.

'Front line'

Baroness Taylor, minister for the DE&S, said: "The tasks carried out by DE&S are hugely important to the armed forces.

"These plans, which are part of the business improvement programme launched earlier this year will make sure that the best support is given to the front line."

General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, Chief of Defence Material and head of DE&S, said: "No decisions will be made until trade unions are fully consulted and staff are being kept fully informed throughout this process."

Kevin Kilcoyne, Public and Commercial Services Union branch secretary, said the main opposition to the move was the disruption to individuals and families.

He said: "People have children in schools. People have relatives working in other jobs and... the commute to Bristol is very, very difficult..."