Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, said “The NHS has been clear: there is no scope clinically or financially to use the old Cottage Hospital as it stands for the Day Case Unit.

“In a time when the Labour Government is looking to cut back on capital expenditure and NHS Integrated Care Boards are facing cutbacks of 50%, the actions of Cllr Bray are reckless and jeopardise the £10 million funding.

“To ignore the realities facing us and request a delay at such a late stage in the process, after the NHS has put time and money into creating these plans, risks our community losing this funding and access to vital local healthcare services altogether. Is this what the public really want?

“When the Cottage Hospital opened in 1900, it invigorated local healthcare and provided much-needed services to local people of all ages, but it is no longer fit for purpose. These new plans are a continuation of the contribution that the Cottage Hospital has made to the health and well-being of our community since it opened. The NHS is doing their best to incorporate what they can, but at the end of the day it has to be safe for patients and staff. That is non-negotiable.

“An empty building which is unsafe to operate in, as much as we all care for its heritage, serves no one. The best way to honour its legacy is to ensure that day surgeries and procedures can continue on site once again.

“I and, more importantly, the public will rightly hold Cllr Bray and the Liberal Democrats personally responsible if this falls through.”