Cllr Stephen Reid (Conservative) (Letter, February 8) tells readers that those of us doubting new money is guaranteed for our new hospital are 'overstepping the mark' by querying the position. He says the hospital trust received a letter in May 2023 confirming the funding. Well if that is indeed the case this letter should be made available to the Basingstoke Gazette for publication - if need be by the issuing of a Freedom of Information request.

The reality, as reported by the Basingstoke Gazette, is that the current funding for the New Hospital Programme 'does not include' hospitals in cohort 4 which have been delayed until the 2030s. It will be for the next Government (probably a Labour one according to the polls) to decide on both the level of capital expenditure and location of this spend for this future period. It was interesting to see reported on BBC South recently that the Royal Berkshire Hospital (Reading) is also now embarking on a pre-consultation exercise for a new hospital, possibly on a new site. So we now have Reading competing with Basingstoke for these limited funds for a new hospital and this is just one small part of England.

With no money left residents have every right to be sceptical of local Conservative politicians desperately trying to prove the impossible i.e. Basingstoke hospital has guaranteed funding. The only guaranteed new hospital to be built in this area is Frimley Park (Camberley) and this is due to its failing RAAC construction.

Barry Deller

Chalky Copse

Hook

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