Campaigners have welcomed news that the future of Caernarfon Barracks has been safeguarded after years of uncertainty.

The barracks in Caernarfon have been given a reprieve nearly four years after the Ministry of Defence announced its intention to close them as part of an armed forces shake-up.

Arfon MP Hywel Williams actively campaigned to safeguard the barracks including presenting a 2,400 signed petition to Parliament opposing the closure.

He said: “I’m very pleased to hear that the future of Caernarfon Barracks has been safeguarded after a long and drawn out campaign.

“When the Government first announced their intention to close the barracks, their announcement was rightly met by fierce criticism in Caernarfon.”

The building is of historical significance, the work of John Llwyd, responsible for other buildings in Caernarfon such as the market hall and the former polices station.

Cllr William Tudor Owen, who was part of the campaign to keep the barracks open, being situated within his ward of Peblig, said: “It’s been a long negotiation period with the military to try and keep the barracks open, the first case of a threat of closure dates back to 2009 and then again in 2013.

“I have been very supportive of this campaign as it falls in my ward and also because of the fact that the building still has a lot to offer the community.

“Activities are still regularly being held at the barracks, such as the OTC (Officers’ Training Corps) from Bangor University holding their training sessions here and the Welsh Guards also hold their recrutiment sessions here from time to time too.

“We know that there will need to be quite a bit of money spent on the facilities to keep them running but we in Caernarfon are so glad that the right decision has finally been made after such a long fight to keep the barrack’s open.

”The plan for the barrack’s now is to keep it running through hosting a variety of activities including events in the building’s main hall, cadets training days, and Welsh Guard recruitment sessions, amongst many other events.

“The cost of doing so is unclear as of yet, but for the time being the barrack’s will remain open.”