The Government has been criticised for failing to respond to requests to involve the local community in deciding to replace the UK’s leading military rehabilitation centre.

At a meeting of Mole Valley Council on Tuesday, Councillor David Preedy, who represents Headley, called for a motion asking for urgent discussions to be had on the future of Headley Court, near Leatherhead.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced plans to replace the facility with a larger, £300m Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) at Stanford Hall in the Midlands by 2018. 

It is understood the DNRC will share its expertise among military and civilian patients.

Coun Preedy proposed a motion at the meeting, which echoed one he made to the council in February, which called for urgent discussions to be had about the future of the facilities at Headley Court between the council, the MoD and the Headley Court Trustees, who own the land.

The motion was passed unanimously.  

Coun Preedy criticised the MoD for failing to respond to the council’s earlier requests to be consulted and the area's MPs for failing to support the council on this issue.

He said: "The likely loss of key personnel presents a clear risk that the excellence achieved at Headley Court may not be transferred to Stanford Hall. 

"Simply providing money to build better facilities does not build a great team. 

"Stanford Hall has space for an athletics track; that won’t compensate for the loss of real experts who have developed into a first-rate team. 

"I have very real concerns that the decision that has been made may destroy a world-class rehabilitation team. 

"We need to ensure that all efforts are made to provide an alternative that allows members of this team to continue their work." 

He said it had to be remembered that Headley Court is a major local employer and that the site includes 65 homes. 

Coun Preedy added: "This council needs to be engaged urgently in discussions with all the relevant parties to ensure local views and interests are represented before further irrevocable decisions are made. 

"The Headley Court Trustees are also critical. They have legal ownership of the site, but it is very unclear what outcomes they want from this process. 

"Since the military is pulling out of Headley Court, it may well be that their sole remaining aim is to maximise their profit from selling the estate, irrespective of local interests or indeed of possible opportunities for civilian rehabilitation services. 

"We need to understand their motivation and ensure that local interests get a hearing.

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