Backlash grows over troops' squalid living conditions
by MATTHEW HICKLEY
5th January 2007
The dreadful state of British military housing
Ministers are facing a growing backlash over the squalid state of military housing after senior commanders admitted soldiers and their families are having to endure seriously sub-standard accommodation.
With troops risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, many voiced anger yesterday over what they see as shameful 'slum' barracks and dilapidated married quarters back home.
Ageing housing blocks - many overdue for demolition - are blighted by damp and mould, leaking roofs and smashed windows, faulty plumbing and electrics and broken heating.
While top commanders enjoy free use of multi-million pound flats in exclusive central London locations, their junior personnel claim their own grim living conditions are pushing many to quit the forces, despite years of complaints and promised improvements.
The Ministry of Defence admitted there were widespread and serious problems, but insisted a major investment programme was under way. However critics warned that crippling financial problems are forcing senior defence chiefs to choose between tackling run-down housing or paying for vital training and equipment for frontline fighting forces.
The Army commander in charge of welfare issues, Adjutant General Sir Freddie Viggers, has become the latest senior officer to speak out over the Government's treatment of the armed forces, admitting that too many British soldiers are forced to live in shabby and outdated barrack blocks "of a poor standard."
He said it was now the duty of defence chiefs to "fight our corner to get for our families what they deserve."
He added: "There is still too much accommodation which is of a poor standard, which is old, and which is not modern in the way it's fitted [out] for families.
"It is a key issue in what we call the military covenant: giving our soldiers and their families what they deserve in return for that they do for us."
His warnings echoed recent comments by fellow senior commanders, including recently retired head of the Army General Sir Mike Jackson who said some accommodation was "frankly shaming".
In the wake of Sir Freddie's statement yesterday soldiers flooded internet chatrooms and news websites with their complaints, and photographs of slum accommodation.
Some related horror stories to the Mail, speaking anonymously to avoid disciplinary action.
A 29-year-old soldier said his barracks at Catterick in Yorkshire were "prehistoric", with "leaking toilets, no heating and damp wall."
And a colleague based at Warminster in Wiltshire told how when he first walked into his last married quarters his wife burst into tears.
One woman angrily accused the Army authorities of dragging their heels over requested repairs until families move out, and then blaming them for "damage" and forcing them to pay for repairs.
Five years ago former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced a £1billion upgrade programme, but soldiers claim progress has been painfully slow, and now the MOD estimates that it will cost far more to put the worst of the problems right - at least £5billion over the next decade.
Of the armed forces' 150,000 barrack places for single men and women, just under half is in the lowest grade for quality.
Soldiers pay up to £100 a month to live there, mostly sharing several to a room. Officials claim married quarters are in better condition, with 95 per cent rated as 'good' or better.
Ministers claim all accommodation will eventually be upgraded to modern standards with all single personnel given their own en-suite room.
More than 20 senior defence chiefs enjoy luxurious grace-and-favour homes, including several multi-million pound apartments in an exclusive block overlooking London's Hyde Park, complete with servants.
Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "Our Armed Forces are willing to put life and limb at risk for this country.
"The Government must recognise that whilst our troops are fulfilling their commitment to the country, the country has a commitment to the Armed Forces.
"This Government is increasingly willing to commit our forces, now its time for them to keep their side of the deal."
An MOD spokesman said: "We accept there are serious problems with some service accommodation, but much of it is of a high quality. We're working hard to deal with that which isn't up to the high standards we set."
Officials claim £700million was spent on maintenance and upgrades last year, including improving 1,705 married quarters.
dailymail.co.uk
by MATTHEW HICKLEY
5th January 2007
The dreadful state of British military housing
Ministers are facing a growing backlash over the squalid state of military housing after senior commanders admitted soldiers and their families are having to endure seriously sub-standard accommodation.
With troops risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, many voiced anger yesterday over what they see as shameful 'slum' barracks and dilapidated married quarters back home.
Ageing housing blocks - many overdue for demolition - are blighted by damp and mould, leaking roofs and smashed windows, faulty plumbing and electrics and broken heating.
While top commanders enjoy free use of multi-million pound flats in exclusive central London locations, their junior personnel claim their own grim living conditions are pushing many to quit the forces, despite years of complaints and promised improvements.
The Ministry of Defence admitted there were widespread and serious problems, but insisted a major investment programme was under way. However critics warned that crippling financial problems are forcing senior defence chiefs to choose between tackling run-down housing or paying for vital training and equipment for frontline fighting forces.
The Army commander in charge of welfare issues, Adjutant General Sir Freddie Viggers, has become the latest senior officer to speak out over the Government's treatment of the armed forces, admitting that too many British soldiers are forced to live in shabby and outdated barrack blocks "of a poor standard."
He said it was now the duty of defence chiefs to "fight our corner to get for our families what they deserve."
He added: "There is still too much accommodation which is of a poor standard, which is old, and which is not modern in the way it's fitted [out] for families.
"It is a key issue in what we call the military covenant: giving our soldiers and their families what they deserve in return for that they do for us."
His warnings echoed recent comments by fellow senior commanders, including recently retired head of the Army General Sir Mike Jackson who said some accommodation was "frankly shaming".
In the wake of Sir Freddie's statement yesterday soldiers flooded internet chatrooms and news websites with their complaints, and photographs of slum accommodation.
Some related horror stories to the Mail, speaking anonymously to avoid disciplinary action.
A 29-year-old soldier said his barracks at Catterick in Yorkshire were "prehistoric", with "leaking toilets, no heating and damp wall."
And a colleague based at Warminster in Wiltshire told how when he first walked into his last married quarters his wife burst into tears.
One woman angrily accused the Army authorities of dragging their heels over requested repairs until families move out, and then blaming them for "damage" and forcing them to pay for repairs.
Five years ago former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced a £1billion upgrade programme, but soldiers claim progress has been painfully slow, and now the MOD estimates that it will cost far more to put the worst of the problems right - at least £5billion over the next decade.
Of the armed forces' 150,000 barrack places for single men and women, just under half is in the lowest grade for quality.
Soldiers pay up to £100 a month to live there, mostly sharing several to a room. Officials claim married quarters are in better condition, with 95 per cent rated as 'good' or better.
Ministers claim all accommodation will eventually be upgraded to modern standards with all single personnel given their own en-suite room.
More than 20 senior defence chiefs enjoy luxurious grace-and-favour homes, including several multi-million pound apartments in an exclusive block overlooking London's Hyde Park, complete with servants.
Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "Our Armed Forces are willing to put life and limb at risk for this country.
"The Government must recognise that whilst our troops are fulfilling their commitment to the country, the country has a commitment to the Armed Forces.
"This Government is increasingly willing to commit our forces, now its time for them to keep their side of the deal."
An MOD spokesman said: "We accept there are serious problems with some service accommodation, but much of it is of a high quality. We're working hard to deal with that which isn't up to the high standards we set."
Officials claim £700million was spent on maintenance and upgrades last year, including improving 1,705 married quarters.
dailymail.co.uk
