A union official today expressed concerns over an announcement that soldiers due to be based in Shropshire could instead be sent to barracks in another county.

The Ministry of Defence announced yesterday that RAF Cosford was no longer the preferred location for the 1 Signal Brigade when it relocates from Germany, after delays with a defence training shake-up.

Robert O’Harney, Public and Commercial Services  branch secretary at Cosford, said today: “It has not come as a shock to us because of the numerous delays on the Defence Training Review programme.

“We need to see clarity in the long-term future for Cosford for all the staff not involved in the transfer to South Wales.

“Trying to get assurances for their future is difficult when we don’t know what will happen eventually with the site.

“Because even though they are saying the 102 brigade is still provisionally looking at moving to Cosford that itself could fall apart.

“There is every indication they are not going to meet the timeline they expect.”

He said Cosford already had the road infrastructure in place, unlike St Athan.

Mr O’Harney said: “We are very concerned. We are still heavily involved with local MPs and meet with them on a regular basis.

“We are still heavily involved in raising awareness of the issue to the Defence Select Committee and have written to the National Audit Office. We continue to maintain our campaign in as many ways as we can.”

An RAF Cosford spokesman said: “Cosford personnel are focusing today as every day on the task of training aeronautical engineers, photographers and information and communication technicians for the front line.

“As to the future of the Cosford site as a military base, as the Armed Forces Minister said today, the MoD will continue to consider the opportunities for Cosford as the need arises.”

Beacon Barracks in Stafford is now the MoD’s preferred UK base for 1 Signal Brigade when it relocates from Germany.

Cosford continues to be the preferred site for 102 Logistic Brigade once the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering moves to St Athan in South Wales as presently planned in 2014/15.

The 102 Logistic Brigade is expected to move to Cosford in 2016.

By Lisa Rowley