Hospital surprise?

I can’t see why, it was a foregone conclusion, when the bulldozers razed our hospital, that for many reasons it would never be replaced.

It would be cruel to reprint the pictures of our silly councillors swigging champagne in celebration of securing the rebuild, but it should be recognised that some in authority may now be genuinely crushed at this final blow to their campaign.

It will be interesting, although depressing, to see what development plans were submitted the day after this news broke. How many more old people can we lure to Littlehampton? How many can we stack up on this hospital land?

If we have lost our hospital to a decision by un-elected GPs (personally, I thought I paid for them to be trained in medicine, not management), given authority by a government forced to coerce ministers and Lords to get the bill through, then the people of Littlehampton should now focus on retaining the land for public use, and not lose it to another private development that further strains our local infrastructure.

Why not now clear it for a public park?

The land should be kept clear, so that when common sense eventually triumphs over cash, we may again see a hospital there. Not just a few beds for elderly, as reported, but also a much-needed minor injuries unit.

Do we know the fate of Zachary Merton hospital? I believed they were holding it together with Sellotape and sticking plasters, waiting for the new Littlehampton Hospital to be built. Do the greedy developers get both sites now?

Steve Harris

Tideway

Littlehampton