A SPECIAL meeting to give communities an opportunity to hear the latest proposals on relocating thousands of Army families to the Salisbury Plain area is being held in Tidworth later this month.

The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) estate management organisation – Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), has put together a Masterplan which details proposals for delivering the additional infrastructure required by 2019.

The DIO has worked with Wiltshire Council and partners to try to ensure the right level of facilities and services, including healthcare and education provision, are in place in time for the relocation of service personnel and their families.

On 28 May there will be a special meeting, hosted by Tidworth Area Board, at the Tidworth Garrison Theatre, where the DIO will present the plans and answer questions, alongside representatives from the Army and Wiltshire Council.

Leader of Wiltshire Council Jane Scott said: “This meeting is the latest step in ensuring our communities are kept fully informed about developments so we are ready for the changes ahead.

“Our partnership working with the DIO and Army has been key in all of this work and we will continue to engage with communities to ensure that we have the services in place for the whole community so that Army families feel welcome and we maximise the economic opportunities that the rebasing brings.”

The meeting will start at 7pm and will include a presentation on the Masterplan including the changes resulting from the public consultation.

People can view the Masterplan document at www.gov.uk/dio and at Tidworth and Ludgershall, Amesbury until 17 June.

The Masterplan details proposals for delivering the additional infrastructure required by the Army in the Salisbury Plain area which will include up to 1,300 new homes for service families, new accommodation blocks for single soldiers; construction and conversion of other buildings, such as garages, armouries, offices and mess facilities; and future plans on the training estate.