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UK Army shuts down for Christmas to save on energy bills
Posted by
Bill Harvest
,
06 December 2012
·
668 views
personal purchasing assistant bill harvest money saving time saving energy gas electricity
It may not be an option for you and me this winter, but it is for the Army, it seems.
Over 100,000 military and civilian personnel have been given nearly a month long Christmas break in an attempt to save on gas and electricity bills, according to the Daily Mail. The decision means that all barracks and military sites will be closed from December 14 until January 7, says the newspaper.
Quoting a leaked memo from a senior officer, the Daily Mail reports that the chief of staff for UK land forces, Major General David Cullen, considered this to be an ‘opportunity for utility savings,’ aimed to ‘fully exploit the utility efficiencies available by closing down buildings/working areas over this period’.
Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, described this as “an act of sheer desperation by military commanders starved of cash by the Government.” “The troops themselves will welcome the extra time off,” he said, “but nevertheless, to an Army at war this sends an insulting and morale-sapping message that makes it entirely clear just where spending priorities do not lie.”
Sources at the Ministry of Defence said to the newspaper that it was ‘ridiculous’ to suggest the Christmas leave plan was a cost-cutting measure.
Over 100,000 military and civilian personnel have been given nearly a month long Christmas break in an attempt to save on gas and electricity bills, according to the Daily Mail. The decision means that all barracks and military sites will be closed from December 14 until January 7, says the newspaper.
Quoting a leaked memo from a senior officer, the Daily Mail reports that the chief of staff for UK land forces, Major General David Cullen, considered this to be an ‘opportunity for utility savings,’ aimed to ‘fully exploit the utility efficiencies available by closing down buildings/working areas over this period’.
Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, described this as “an act of sheer desperation by military commanders starved of cash by the Government.” “The troops themselves will welcome the extra time off,” he said, “but nevertheless, to an Army at war this sends an insulting and morale-sapping message that makes it entirely clear just where spending priorities do not lie.”
Sources at the Ministry of Defence said to the newspaper that it was ‘ridiculous’ to suggest the Christmas leave plan was a cost-cutting measure.
