DECISION day is looming for Warrington's Territorial Army detachment - but hopes are high the force has a future in the town.

Commanding officers from the 5/8 Kings Regiment are still awaiting an announcement about the future of the O'Leary Street base, under the government's Strategic Defence Review.

But the centre's Adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel David Richardson, believes the barracks, home to the old South Lancashire Regiment, will remain operational in some capacity.

The unit, amalgamated with the 3rd Cheshires, could still be moved to Chester even though original plans, unveiled last November, proposed Warrington as the ideal location.

Lieut Col Richardson told the GUARDIAN: "We are hoping that this TA centre will stay. This is a good centre and recruiting area. There is great history here."

Providing places for 150 TA troops, the centre also houses around 20 administration staff, a combination of civilian, regular and non-regular posts.

Retirements and staff transfers should allow the number of redundancies to be minimised, according to Liet Col Richardson, who thinks a final ruling will be made by Ministers later this month.

"It is better to wait a little bit longer and get everything right than to rush through a decision," he added, referring to the wait faced by staff while the review continues.

Recruitment is still continuing at the centre, with an open day planned on March 13.

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