THE future is still uncertain for a near-deserted naval training base near Fareham - nearly a year after its closure.

Among the possible uses for Southwick Park at Southwick are a new home for the Royal Military Police, currently based at Roussillon barracks in Chichester, or as a base for an elite tri-service organisation.

The base, formerly HMS Dryad, is the spot where orders for the D-Day landings were given. Naval chiefs have always promised that the wall map on which US General Eisenhower and his commanders watched progress of the events of D-Day will be preserved in its original position on the site.

But defence bosses, who will oversee the disposal of Southwick Park, say options for the remainder of the 300-acre establishment are still being considered while naval training continues on a small part of the site.

Defence Estates spokesman Emma Newland said: "The Ministry of Defence continues to hold Southwick Park establishment for military use. Currently, naval training continues in part and a number of options for future use of the remainder of the establishment are under consideration.

"There is presently no decision to relocate the Military Police from Roussillon barracks or any tri-service organisation to Southwick Park."

The site is not expected to be sold until 2007.

A decommissioning ceremony nearly a year ago marked the end of 63 years of navigation and warfare training at HMS Dryad.

The closure of the base last April followed the announcement that an integrated maritime warfare school would be established at HMS Collingwood in Fareham.

A message of thanks and good wishes from the Queen was read out during the ceremony, which ended with the ship's company marching out of the base followed by a ceremonial closing of the main gates.