Arbroath councillor Dr Dick Speirs won universal support at the county’s infrastructure services committee for his suggestion that the council’s attack homes in on why the facility is so crucial to the armed forces.

He feels putting the case so strongly that the MoD can not do without the base in military terms will have more chance of swaying opinion than simply lamenting its loss to the local economy.

“Arguing the case to protect our economy is not going to cut much ice,” he explained.

Dr Speirs said the council had to champion base benefits to the military to grab defence chiefs’ attention, citing positive arguments in Condor’s favour.

In the case of the marines, he said the base was in an ideal location for a wealth of training opportunities — back roads for yomping, water for exercises and hills for climbing.

He also said the “excellent relationship” between the base and the local community must be emphasised, as well as availability of relatively inexpensive housing; proximity to RAF Leuchars; transport links and “absence of any security or terrorist problems up to now”.

“I think taking these arguments forward . . . will probably mean more to the MoD in persuading them not to give up Condor,” he added.

Councillor Peter Nield agreed in highlighting its military advantages first to the MoD and said, “It is not their remit to take cognisance of the impact on the local economy.

“What we should do is get this council to make the military case to keep Condor in whatever guise they come up with.”

Mr Nield listed a series of bases axed over the years or closing, including RAF Edzell, RAF Buchan, RAF Saxa Vord, RAF Turnhouse, HMS Gannet, and the Royal Navy nerve centre at Pitreavie.

“Scotland is taking the brunt of a lot of these cuts,” he went on, and suggested the council bring in experts in this field to help hone the effort to preserve Condor.

Councillor Alex King called for council economic development staff to research the value of Condor and its Marines to Arbroath and Angus.

He did not want a repeat of events of 1969 when the Fleet Air Arm air engineering school left Condor and was replaced by the marines. At the time, he said, the arrival of 850 men and 150 civilians spending £1million was trumpeted.

Mr King said what was not spelled out was the fact that the marine contingent was replacing 1200 sailors and 300 civilian jobs.

He told the committee how the Fleet Air Arm personnel settled in the community and those who left the area often came back at the end of their service.

Now, he said, a substantial number of married quarters are no longer.

“If we still had these 1200 apprentices and trainers, we would have had all these quarters full,” continued Mr King.

Of the base’s future he added, “It could be a similar situation where another military unit comes in, but we must say it must not be any smaller than what we have got.”

Councillors instructed authority chief executive Sandy Watson to write to the MoD expressing the benefits of the base to the military and to the community.

The council was told the estates review will be completed next year.