DEFENCE chiefs have decided to close a housing block at the Royal Navy's biggest training establishment following complaints about the "truly awful" accommodation.
The Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Martin Connell, said Vivian Block at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, would be shut and the people living there provided with alternative accommodation.
Posting on social media he said: "It’s clear we need to do more to give our sailors the accommodation they deserve."
His comments come after military personnel compared conditions at the base to Stalingrad, the Russian city reduced to ruins during the Second World War.
Sailors said they had been forced to put up with broken showers and radiators, blocked and overflowing toilets, and fire alarms that sounded continuously late at night. Some even complained their fridges were infested with maggots.
READ MORE: Southampton veteran returns to HMS Collingwood, Fareham, to celebrate 100th birthday
Speaking in January, shadow defence secretary John Healey said members of the armed forces were living in "shameful conditions" whilst serving their country.
On Wednesday Vice Admiral Connell tweeted: "Last week I visited HMS Collingwood to see the state of accommodation for myself.
"Despite recent efforts, I've made the decision to close Vivian Block and everyone affected will be relocated. It's clear we need to do more to give our sailors the accommodation they deserve and expect."
Officials at the Ministry of Defence have confirmed that about 300 sailors will be affected by the decision.
The decision to close Vivian Block has been welcomed by Dame Caroline Dinenage, Tory MP for Gosport, who said the building had been in a state of "disrepair" for some time.
She has spent months campaigning for housing at Collingwood and HMS Sultan in Gosport to be improved.
Dame Caroline raised the issue in Parliament in January, describing conditions at the sites as "truly awful" and urging defence minister Andrew Murrison to see the situation for himself.
READ MORE: Sailors at HMS Collingwood, Fareham, rehearse for Queen's funeral procession
The MoD has recently announced plans to spend £1.6bn on improving service accommodation.
Dame Caroline said: "I am relieved this issue is finally being taken seriously and hope that we will see swift progress to resolve the situation.
"Our service personnel persistently show up, step up and fill in, not just in defence of our nation but in the stead of other public sector workers.
"They absolutely deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and care - and this must start with good quality living accommodation."
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