AN eleventh hour rescue attempt has been made to buy up land at an army repair base in Warminster but jobs are still set to go.

The South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) is putting together a plan for the regeneration of the ABRO site, but needs to make the purchase by the end of today; otherwise the whole deal could fall through.

Even if the purchase goes ahead it will be unable to save more than 100 workers from redundancy. Defence Minister Adam Ingram recently announced plans to cut up to 129 jobs at the base, rather than the previously envisaged 185, following the loss of a major defence contract last year.

A spokesman for the SWRDA said: "We are attempting to buy the 37-acre site and if we do, our strategy for the first two years will be to let 80 per cent of the land back to ABRO, and let the remaining 20 per cent to other companies on a short term basis.

"We are working with other key partners such as the district council and county council along with local stakeholders to create a master plan for the long term regeneration of the site.

"But we will only be able to acquire the site if we do it by the end of our financial year."

Plans are for 82 job cuts at ABRO (Army Based Repair Organisation) this financial year and a further 47 jobs to go in 2007/08.

A spokesperson for ABRO said: "The proposed sale to South West Regional Development Agency will not have a direct impact on staff.

"Further to the minister's announcement on March 16, redundancies will be made in Warminster of up to 129 by April 2008 as part of the ABRO phase two rationalisation." MP Andrew Murrison, said: "I will look at the SWRDA deal with a great deal of interest. The problem with the government's plans for ABRO is that a highly skilled workforce will be lost.

"If the SWRDA's proposals secure quality jobs in Warminster then they are likely to have my support." The SWRDA spokesperson, said: "The site is situated close to the railway station and town centre so it is sustainable as a centre for employment."

He said an overall decline in the number of military related jobs was likely over time but if they worked together with local partners they could make up for the losses. He hoped there would be a mixture of businesses there in the future, including small businesses and manufacturing.

If the South West Regional Development Agency does not buy the site, ABRO could be forced to sell the land on the open market.