Council Leader writes to Health Secretary about the future of Mount Road hospital

In his letter, Cllr Bray repeated that he welcomes improved NHS facilities in Hinckley but sets out the importance of preserving the building’s historic Victorian cottage facade.

The Council Leader has asked the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting MP, to extend the funding deadline to enable the local NHS to work with the council and the local community to find a design solution.

It follows a planning application to demolish the building as part of a proposal for a new Day Case Unit.

The letter from Cllr Bray to the Secretary of State reads:

“Earlier this week I met with a number of members of the NHS Team who are seeking to deliver a new day case unit in Hinckley.

“I want to state from the outset that I warmly welcome improved NHS facilities in the town, many of us have been campaigning for such improvements for decades and believe they are long overdue. I am grateful that the Government is at long last investing in our local NHS.

“The plans for the new day case centre include the demolition of the Victorian cottage hospital which has stood on Mount Road in my ward for over a century, and is part of my hometown's heritage. This is causing concern to a number of people and heritage organisations locally.

“I asked the project team whether it would be possible to retain the older parts of the frontage of the hospital and develop the new modern facilities that local residents deserve behind the Victorian facade. The project team were very clear in their response that any delay or changes to their proposed design would mean that funding would be lost and result in no new facilities locally. This would be a disastrous outcome and one which I want to avoid at all costs. They tell me that your department has set a hard deadline of next spring for spending of the budget on this project.

“I am therefore writing to ask you to consider asking your officials to work with myself, planning and conservation officers and the local community to look again at the design for this new day case unit that blends new modern facilities with the locally recognised heritage asset.

“I think this could be a real jewel in the crown for the NHS and something that both of us could be proud of. At the very least I would ask for a commitment to ensure that the funding for the scheme is safeguarded to enable local discussions to proceed. I do not wish to prolong this more than necessary, but we have waited decades for improved facilities locally and I don't think a few more weeks to get the design right would cause too much concern.

“I would be more than happy to discuss this further with you or your officials and would welcome you to Hinckley to see for yourself the potential to deliver first class modern NHS facilities, whilst preserving the history of my hometown.”