Villagers back Littlehampton hospital bid

PEOPLE living in two small villages have added their weight to the campaign for Littlehampton Hospital to be rebuilt.

Around 100 letters protesting against the delay in building a new hospital have been collected by Lyminster and Crossbush Parish Council.

They were returned to Arun District Council, which is co-ordinating the community campaign with Littlehampton Town Council and the Littlehampton Gazette, by parish council chairman Caroline Harriott.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And in a personal letter addressed to NHS bosses who have promised a decision one way or another over the future of the scheme, Mrs Harriott said her community felt “very strongly” that there should be adequate health provision, especially for the elderly and young children.

She added: “Please keep to your promise (we have already waited too long) and build Littlehampton Community Hospital.”

Around 6,000 people have now signed the protest letter and last month a delegation of campaigners lobbied the board of the new NHS Sussex trust which will make its final decision on the hospital alongside GPs who are being handed greater control over the NHS.

Senior representatives of the trust have also met Arun council leader Gill Brown and agreed that they would carry out an urgent review of the scheme and draw up a timetable committing them to a decision within months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Among the biggest supporters of the campaign have been Littlehampton Shopmobility customers Bob McDowall and Fred and Millie Harman, who have encouraged hundreds of people to sign the lettters.

Shopmobility has even given them free use of mobility scooters to help them get around town to collect more signatures.

People can also sign the protest letters at the following places in Littlehampton:

Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road; Littlehampton Gazette, Beach Road; Littlehampton Library, Maltravers Road; Littlehampton Town Council, Manor House, Church Street; Littlehampton Shopmobility, 1-5 St Martin’s Lane;, or online at www.arun.gov.uk/giveusourhospital.