Lib Dems lead as hospital campaign goes on

12.07.56am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 22nd May 2010

Phile Knowles addresses the hospital meeting (photo by courtesy of Andrew Carpenter)

Liberal Democrats in Market Harborough continue to lead the community campaign for a new or upgraded hospital in town. Following a string of broken promises by the Primary Care Trust it was confirmed by the Trust board that without third-party funding of around £7.5m there will be no new facility or major improvements.

Speaking at the packed meeting in Market Harborough last week, Cllr Phil Knowles, along with fellow Lib Dem councillors Sarah Hill, Eileen Roeber and Barbara Johnson, took the Trust board to task for ''dithering and lack of decisions over a number of years,'' saying that residents are now left with the fall out from many broken promises.

Pledging to keep up the campaign, Phil warned the board that if the investment could not be found all Harborough would be left with was the promise of a coat of paint and a sticking plaster on the current facilities in an attempt to maintain them to a minimum standard.

If this was all the people of Harborough were given the board would have to accept full responsibility for this unforgivable situation. "A 21st century Harborough, a growing community, needs a 21st century facility," said Phil.