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Regional press news - this story published 04 January 2008

Paper's campaign helps secure new billion-pound academy

by holdthefrontpage staff

A campaign by a south Wales newspaper helped secure a £14bn military training academy.

The Cardiff-based South Wales Echo has been fighting for the academy to be built at RAF St Athan, west of the city.

It is hoped the new academy will create 1,000 new construction jobs, a further 5,000 related other positions and dramatically improve training to the British armed forces.

Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda, praised the work of the paper in an Early Day Motion to Parliament.

He also welcomed the Ministry of Defence's decision to house the new academy in the Vale of Glamorgan.

RAF St Athan was one of two sites being considered for the building contract.

As part of its campaign, the South Wales Echo launched a petition and printed coupons for readers to sign and return.

Journalists from the paper even went to the Wales TUC Conference to address delegates on how important the new centre would be.

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