Letter Response from the MOD: a possible opening for Frimley Park Hospital?

Read the correspondence below.

Al has received an encouraging letter from Defence Minister Luke Pollard regarding the possibility of using Ministry of Defence land adjacent to the existing hospital site as part of the rebuild.

Until now, the availability of this land has been seen as a major obstacle to rebuilding the hospital on its current site and neighbouring land, rather than on the Frimley Fuel Allotments.

The Minister has not categorically ruled out releasing the land. Instead, he identifies several challenges, including the need to find an alternative training site for the Army Cadets currently based at Frimley. He also confirms that MOD officials have offered further discussions with the NHS Trust about their landholdings in the area.

While there are important military, operational and heritage considerations to address, Al believes this response provides grounds for exploring whether these obstacles could be overcome through cooperation between the MOD, the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS Trust.

Al has always supported rebuilding Frimley Park Hospital, but he believes the location must be right. Many residents have raised concerns about the proposed use of the Frimley Fuel Allotments. Building on the allotments would mean the loss of valuable green space and could create long-term challenges for local roads and access.

He hopes the NHS Trust will take up the MOD's offer of further discussions and fully explore whether rebuilding alongside the existing hospital could provide a realistic alternative to developing the Frimley Fuel Allotments.

Read the correspondence below.