Soldiers live in shipping containers - MP

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan shared pictures of accommodation at the base

Soldiers in Shropshire are living in "converted shipping containers" because of a shortage of suitable housing, an MP claims.

Helen Morgan said a constituent from Clive Barracks, in Tern Hill, had told her there were up to 40 units at the site.

Mrs Morgan said the rooms were brought in after soldiers had been forced to share "rat-infested rooms" with up to six others.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said it was "committed to ensuring our service personnel have the high-quality accommodation they rightly deserve."

Helen Morgan raised a constituent's claims in the House of Commons

One of the MP's constituents from the base, said: "The quality of the accommodation is despicable. Ministers wouldn't want to live in conditions like that."

The person, whose identity we have agreed not to reveal, claimed there were only two or three washing machines between 40 personnel, and not enough room in the new units for personal kit.

"We don't ask for much, just the basics: clean and everything working", they added.

The claims have been put to the MoD for comment.

Mrs Morgan has raised the issue of military accommodation several times since her election in 2021, raising issues at the barracks in Tern Hill and at RAF Shawbury.

The Liberal Democrat MP told MPs in the Commons: "The recent cases of rat-infested rooms and soldiers living in shipping containers at Tern Hill are utterly appalling.

There needs to be immediate action to sort this situation out."

Mrs Morgan has asked James Cartlidge, minister for defence procurement, if he could offer reassurance that service personnel would have "somewhere appropriate to live in the near future".

'Not shipping containers'

The minister said he would look into the specific claims reported by Mrs Morgan.

He added a recent government plan aimed at improving service accommodation would benefit thousands of personnel.

In response to Mrs Morgan's claims, the ministry told the BBC: "There are no outstanding pest control issues at Clive Barracks and any reports are dealt with as quickly as possible."

Defence sources also questioned the description of the units, denying that "shipping containers" had ever been used for accommodation.

The ministry has announced proposals to close Clive Barracks by 2029.

It is earmarked to be redeveloped as housing.