Why is Nick Hawkins so Interested in Deepcut?

6.46.04pm GMT Fri 26th Mar 2004

Deepcut Village Centre could be radically changed in a few years

David Whitcroft, Lib Dem Borough Council Leader asks: I am not sure why Surrey Heath MP felt it necessary to ask the Prime Minister about possible housing development at Deepcut? He received a predictably evasive and 'Smart Alec' reply but perhaps his real purpose was more to draw attention to himself in the eyes of vote-casting Surrey Heath Conservatives rather than to develop genuine information!

If Mr Hawkins had a real interest in the position at Deepcut he would have contacted the Defence Estates Department who would have updated him, as they did a recent meeting of the Blackwater Valley Network.

The situation is that, having run the Deepcut Barracks through their various computer models, the site is very vulnerable to being sold off for development. However, a final decision will not be made until early next year on completion of the full review of MOD locations in the South East of England. Since Deepcut Barracks runs to some 131 hectares (the vast majority of it deemed to be 'brownfield'), we could be looking at a huge development within a short period of years.

The MOD is also considering the future of Arborfield Barracks (142 hectares) to the south of Wokingham and Bordon Garrison (259 hectares) to the south of Farnham. Clearly, if all three sites are released for development the Blackwater Valley is going to face some major changes and challenges over the next 10 years or so. BUT the decisions have not yet been made so it makes sense to keep calm and consider the issues fully during the intervening months.

It is a great pity that Nick Hawkins does not recognize the existence of democratically elected Councillors who are NOT Tories since we would happily share this kind of information with him. If he showed an understanding that we all have a genuine interest in serving the best interests of our area and residents irrespective of political party, then government in Surrey Heath might be a bit more 'joined up'. At present, too, he might find he gets more cooperation from local Liberal Democrats than he gets from the rather unpleasant bunch who are supposed to be his supporters!