Cosford is competing with St Athan in south Wales for the national training contract, and a decision is expected within the next few weeks.

Sarah Bridge, of Advantage West Midlands which is co-ordinating the bid, said while MPs had to remain impartial over the decision, campaigners thought it could only be good for Cosford if the case was brought to the attention of the Government at the Manchester conference on Sunday.

She said: “Our chief executive and chairman will be there and will hopefully attract the attention of some of the prominent MPs to Cosford’s bid.

“It would be great if perhaps the Prime Minister or Gordon Brown came over to see the stand.”

She added: “We had a similar stand last year about Rover and the Prime Minister came and gave us his backing.”

If Cosford becomes a major defence training site it will be one of the largest economic development projects in the West Midlands with considerable expansion within the base and additional investment in the local area and region.

Councillor Les Jones, chairman of Bridgnorth District Council’s community improvement committee, said: “Cosford is the ideal site for locating the defence training colleges.

“It has long experience in providing similar training, is well located centrally in the country with good access and there are appropriate skills in the area and region to support the training colleges.

“The proposal will bring significant economic and employment benefits to the whole region.

“With a decision pending from the Government, the council considers it appropriate to reaffirm its full backing to Cosford being chosen as the best site for providing future defence training.”

Councillor Elizabeth Yeomans, leader of Bridgnorth District Council, added: “RAF Cosford is undoubtedly the most economically viable and sustainable option.”

By Simon Alton

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