Duke joins battle for new Littlehampton hospital

THE COMMUNITY now has aristocratic backing in its fight for a hospital.

The Duke of Norfolk has joined the campaign, demanding that Littlehampton’s long-promised hospital be built.

His family gave the land for the hospital site at the turn of the 20th century and the original hospital was opened by the then Duchess of Norfolk.

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The current Duke’s father, the late Duke Miles, was himself a supporter of a campaign a decade ago to have the old facility rebuilt.

Plans are also underway for the campaign’s “battle bus” which will be leaving Arun Civic Centre, and heading for a meeting with health bosses, on July 28.

Leader of the district council, Gill Brown, said: “This is the first public meeting of the Sussex Cluster Primary Care Trust (PCT) since it was formed earlier this year.

“I am still waiting for an official response to my letter asking why the project has been so beset with delays and made the subject of such unnecessary bureaucracy so we will now travel to them and ask the same questions again in public.”

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Littlehampton town mayor Alan Gammon and local hospital hero Bob McDowall, who has spent the last month riding around town on his mobility scooter, personally gathering more than 1,200 signatures, will also be going to the meeting, at the Spotlight Room, The Hawth, Crawley.

Campaigners will use the public question time to pointedly ask health leaders why the town still has no hospital, and the council is laying on free coach travel, on a first-come, first-served basis, for local residents who want to attend.

The campaign has been growing even more over the last week, with Arundel CoE Primary and Elm Grove Infant schools, and Littlehampton Academy all getting behind the bid.

Littlehampton Hospital was demolished in 2005, after planning permission was granted for a new 20 bed facility on the site, and building work was due to start the following year, though “budget problems” saw it put on hold.

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In 2008, health bosses said “the time was right” to build the new hospital and that it would be up and running by 2010, but residents and councillors alike are now running out of patience.

To sign a protest letter, go to www.arun.gov.uk/giveusourhospital or pop into Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton Library, Littlehampton Town Council or the Littlehampton Gazette offices.

To book your place on the coach, which will be leaving for the 2pm meeting at 12.30pm, call 01903 737606 or 01903 737607.

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