A CIVIC society chairman has criticised the "disappointing" design of a new community hospital.

Malvern Civic Society Roger Sutton has written to health chiefs with complaints over the design of the proposed £19.3 million Malvern Community Hospital.

Project leaders Worces-tershire Primary Care Trust began a public consultation on Wednesday, April 16.

The public and other interested parties have until Friday, May 9, to register their views about the hospital, scheduled to open in September 2010.

Mr Sutton said in the letter he had concerns about the appearance of the building which looked from artists' impressions like a modern design with large double-glazed windows. The design shows a T-shaped building on two storeys with a pitched roof.

Out-patients, x-ray machines and physiotherapy would be based on the ground floor, in-patients on the first.

Mr Sutton wants traditional materials like stone or brick for the hospital which matches surrounding buildings in the Conservation Area.

Although the PCT does not mention the type of building materials, Mr Sutton said the last thing he would want to see is "breeze blocks" covered with plastic and large windows which let heat escape.

He said: "The consensus is that the exterior design is disappointing. We have been told that the design is only indicative and an attempt to solicit comments from the public - if that is true, it has certainly encouraged residents to canvass for the sort of hospital Malvern deserves."

Mr Sutton said the hospital should not be sited so it obscures or damages views of the nearby common.

He said the foyer area should be limited and not be a large "energy consuming Atrium" like the one at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Trees and shrubs should be kept, he said, to provide screening and he would also like to see an underground car park to reduce the visual impact.

He also believes the Seaford Court building on the site should be kept and, if not, materials should be used from the old building in the new hospital.

Mr Sutton also said traffic lights and roundabouts should be avoided in plans to manage the extra traffic, local services and contractors should be used and that there should be room for the hospital to expand.

Brian Hanford, Malvern Community Hospital's project director, who has read the comments, said: "We welcome the comments made by the Malvern Civic Society. They have made some very valid points and we will take all their concerns into consideration."