IT has become apparent that the mayor, along with some Cinderford town councillors and verderer Mr Maurice Bent, have already commenced a campaign in an endeavour to build a new Forest hospital on the former site of the Northern United colliery.

By their actions does this mean that the closures of both Dilke and Lydney hospitals are imminent and that we are not all in receipt of the necessary information?

This situation is particularly disturbing after the magnificent, co-ordinated and united campaign that was fought a few years ago to keep both facilities open – which was fully supported by the aforementioned.

Lydney’s recent referendum adopted the Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) which is a legal document.

In the plan itself, under the heading of Future Healthcare Provision, it clearly states: “identifying suitable sites for a new hospital and health and well-being hub in Lydney.”

By this statement, therefore, Lydney has already confirmed its intention and will, according to the NDP “continue to secure financial investment/expertise to meet this objective.”

I am certain that this assurance was an influential reason as to why people voted ‘yes’ in the referendum.

Such a facility is of prime and vital importance as part of the town’s regeneration, especially with the large amount of proposed development.

The previous, successful, campaign to keep the Forest hospitals open was fought with complete unanimity and concord.

However the campaign by this quintet is bound to cause confrontational divides, as Lydney Town Council and the residents of Lydney and surrounding areas will no doubt strive to defend the intentions of the NDP, which clearly is to build a new hospital in the town.

Supporters of the Friends of Lydney Hospital and, indeed, the League of Friends, Dilke Hospital will be disappointed to hear the comments of the Cinderford mayor, stating that both hospitals need new equipment.

Both lots of Friends, in conjunction with their local communities, continually work extremely hard to supply such said new equipment for their respective facilities.

Concerned residents of the Forest of Dean need to be enlightened as to whether the futures of the Dilke and Lydney Hospitals, in their present form, are once again in jeopardy.

– Gordon Blake, Lydney.