A SECRET underground bunker could be used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) amid growing concerns of war, its manager has claimed.
The historic bunker, based in Barnton Quarry in Clermiston, Edinburgh, was built in secret during the 1940s as part of Britain’s air defences during the Second World War and was only declassified in 1955.
Manager of the Barnton bunker, Ben Mitchell, has claimed the MoD asked to train at the site a week into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
He added that due to current world tensions, including the war in Ukraine, there has been a surge in interest in the bunker.
Mitchell claimed the MoD commissioned surveys on the underground safe zone and Army regiments have also applied to train there.
He told The Scottish Sun: “The week Russia invaded Ukraine we got a call from the MoD to see if it could do training in the bunker for bunker warfare.
“I wasn't expecting it. I thought it was interesting they were suddenly interested and made the correlation.
“We thought they were going after Putin in one of his bunkers – that's why they needed the training.”
He added: “We have also had other regiments apply for training here for general sort of exercises.
“Chances are, if we ever did go to war these places would be requisitioned by the MoD if it needed them again.
“It did go ahead with surveys but I've not heard back.
“If it did requisition it would get the place up to standard – so that's some positive.”
The Barnton bunker was used for classified roles during the Cold War amid fear of Soviet power and the use of nuclear weapons.
It was also the designated central emergency government hub for the Scottish Office in the case of nuclear attack and was a Regional Seat of Government (RSG) and could shelter 400 politicians in the event of an attack.
Mitchell said the bunker was only fit to withstand 3-megaton nuclear bombs adding that with modern-day bombs weighing around 100-megatons, the site would not be suitable for a nuclear war.
Located 100ft below Corstorphine Hill, Barnton bunker can only be accessed down a private track.
Covering three storeys, it even has a BBC broadcasting studio, and was handed over to the council by the MoD.
The site remained unused for years, but a restoration project began in 2011, and the site partially opened to the public last year.
Around 30 volunteers have helped with the refurbishment of the bunkers with the hope of it fully opening to the public this year.
The site, which became a charity last year, has applied for National Lottery funding to help it open full-time.
Mitchell said it is one of the most important bunkers in Scotland as it is where the country would be run from in the event of nuclear war.
He said: “It will cost an estimated £6 million to finish the place but we are going for project-specific grants of £250,000.
“I like the building aspect and the fact that if we don't finish this place it will get lost to time. A lot of bunkers got demolished and turned into housing estates.
“This one is the most important in Scotland as it is where the country would be run from in the event of a nuclear war so it is quite important to see it finished.”
