Notorious Deepcut barracks to close

The closure of the notorious Deepcut training barracks has been confirmed by Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth.

The Surrey base, which trains thousands of recruits each year, has been shrouded in allegations of widespread bullying and abuse.

Between 1995 and 2002, four teenage recruits - Private Cheryl James, 18; Private James Collinson, 17; Private Sean Benton, 20 and Private Geoff Gray, 17 - all died of gunshot wounds.

Inquests into the deaths recorded a verdict of suicide in Pte Benton's case and open verdicts for the other three.

However, their families rejected the findings and have continued to call for an inquiry to find out exactly how and why they died.

An independent review of the deaths conducted by Nicholas Blake QC concluded they were probably self-inflicted but strongly criticised Army training, citing "harassment, discrimination and oppressive behaviour".

The base - the main training centre for the Royal Logistics Corps - has turned itself around in recent years but will be bulldozed to make way for a housing estate containing up to 5,000 homes.

Mr Ainsworth said in a written statement to MPs that the closure of Deepcut will not take place before 2013.

He said the Government had decided "it is in the best interests for Defence to release the site for alternative civilian use and to re-provide the training facilities elsewhere".

The families of the soldiers who died admitted the announcement brought "mixed emotions".

Geoff Gray, father of Private Geoff Gray, and Yvonne Collinson, mother of Private James Collinson, both said the decision seemed to be "a waste" after significant improvements to the regime at the camp.

The families warned that they would not let the issue of their children's deaths go away with the closure of the barracks.

Mrs Collinson said: "We are never going to forget that Deepcut existed and we won't let them (MoD) forget either. We are going to make sure that it doesn't get brushed under the carpet."

Des James, father of Pte James, said: "Bulldozing a piece of land in Surrey doesn't bring closure for me and my wife."

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