A leading councillor has out forward a notice of motion to renationalise Appledore shipyard and integrate it into the Ministry of Defence.
Cllr Rob Hannaford, leader of the opposition Labour group on Devon County Council, detailed in his motion that the council was 'gravely concerned' that despite having a dedicated and highly skilled set of staff, the shipyard remained closed.
It added that renationalising the yard would ensure that defence capacity and resilience are maintained, and provide employment and prosperity to the local community, and the wider county of Devon.
The Appledore base shut on March 15 when Babcock's lease ran out, Devon Live reported.
There was a union-led protest whereby nearly 10,000 marched, and local MPs got involved with the campaign too.
Speaking on the motion, Cllr Hannaford, said: “To see a successful shipyard turn profit year-on-year and then struggle to secure work for this committed workforce is very unfair and a sad travesty. It’s a huge concern that this important local shipyard remains closed – especially as we know that it has an incredibly skilled and innovative workforce.
“We don’t want the local workers permanently transferred to Plymouth as it is a serious loss of skills and economic activity that this part of Devon cannot afford to lose.
“As all the interagency reports and data indicate Torridge is an area of very high rural; deprivation, with widespread child poverty. So the loss of hundreds of highly skilled, well paid jobs, with career progression is devastating.”
