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Father sad at Deepcut 'closure' Father sad at Deepcut 'closure'
(about 1 hour later)
The father of one of four recruits who died at Deepcut army barracks has said he is sad to hear reports it is to be demolished to make way for housing.The father of one of four recruits who died at Deepcut army barracks has said he is sad to hear reports it is to be demolished to make way for housing.
Geoff Gray, whose son Pte Geoff Gray, died in 2001, said an "awful lot of work" had been done at the Surrey training base since the four deaths.Geoff Gray, whose son Pte Geoff Gray, died in 2001, said an "awful lot of work" had been done at the Surrey training base since the four deaths.
Deepcut and other bases have been under review for some time and a statement is expected to parliament later this week. Deepcut and other bases have been under review and a further statement is expected in Parliament later this week.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it could not pre-empt a statement to MPs.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it could not pre-empt a statement to MPs.
Mr Gray said Deepcut, the main training centre for the Royal Logistics Corps, was now "probably one of the best training establishments in the country".Mr Gray said Deepcut, the main training centre for the Royal Logistics Corps, was now "probably one of the best training establishments in the country".
"If you had asked me last year I would have said the place should be burnt down," Mr Gray told BBC Radio Five Live."If you had asked me last year I would have said the place should be burnt down," Mr Gray told BBC Radio Five Live.
But I really hope that because of the publicity from Deepcut the regime is never as bad as it was there Geoff Gray With all the problems in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is the wrong time to announce that Deepcut is closing Terry Dicks, Surrey county councillor
"But I have talked with the Commanding Officer, the Regimental Sergeant Major and the WRVS over the last year and it is a very well run place at the moment. "But I have talked with the commanding officer, the regimental sergeant major and the WRVS over the last year and it is a very well run place at the moment.
"It is well staffed, well supervised and the recruits have plenty to do.""It is well staffed, well supervised and the recruits have plenty to do."
The four soldiers who died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002 were: Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex; Pte Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, north Wales; Pte James Collinson, 17, from Perth, Scotland; and Pte Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham.The four soldiers who died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002 were: Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex; Pte Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, north Wales; Pte James Collinson, 17, from Perth, Scotland; and Pte Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham.
They all died from gunshot wounds.They all died from gunshot wounds.
Inquests into the deaths recorded a verdict of suicide in Pte Benton's case and open verdicts for the other three.Inquests into the deaths recorded a verdict of suicide in Pte Benton's case and open verdicts for the other three.
An independent review of the deaths, conducted by Nicholas Blake QC, concluded in March 2006 that the deaths probably were self-inflicted.An independent review of the deaths, conducted by Nicholas Blake QC, concluded in March 2006 that the deaths probably were self-inflicted.
But Mr Blake criticised army training, citing "harassment, discrimination and oppressive behaviour".But Mr Blake criticised army training, citing "harassment, discrimination and oppressive behaviour".
The families of the four soldiers have always wanted a public inquiry.The families of the four soldiers have always wanted a public inquiry.
Four soldiers died at Deepcut barracks from gunshot woundsFour soldiers died at Deepcut barracks from gunshot wounds
"There was an open verdict on my son, even though he was shot once above each eyebrow," he said. Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove says on his website he was told by Defence Minister Derek Twigg in October that Deepcut would remain in use for training until at least 2014.
"I still find it strange to think he might have committed suicide." There was a possibility it would stay open for a further three years after that.
He said he thought it was unlikely that army training regimes could ever be as bad as that at Deepcut again. Surrey county councillor Terry Dicks told the BBC now was the wrong time to be closing army training bases.
"There will be soldiers' deaths in barracks," he said. "With all the problems in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is the wrong time to announce that Deepcut is closing.
"Accidents happen, suicides happen and murders happen. "We are not particularly short of housing in Surrey, unless the MoD just wants money."
"But I really hope that because of the publicity from Deepcut the regime is never as bad as it was there." An MoD spokesman said: "There is an on-going review aimed at maximising defence training outputs, but we cannot pre-empt any statements that ministers might make in due course to Parliament."
It is reported that the closure of the barracks, which trains thousands of recruits every year, will be staggered, with training at some level continuing in the short-term.
An MoD spokesman said: "There is an on-going review aimed at maximising defence training outputs but we cannot pre-empt any statements that ministers might make in due course to Parliament."