THE leader of Wychavon District Council Malcolm Meikle has set up a meeting with the Strategic Health Authority for next Monday to discuss hospital provision in Pershore.

He will be accompanied by Councillor Liz Eyre, of Broadway, cabinet spokesman for Social Services with Worcestershire County Council.

News of the meeting was announced by Coun Meikle at a special meeting of the council on Tuesday to discuss the Pershore situation when members voted unanimously to agree the principle of the development of a hospital and/or health centre on the existing Defford Road site or Civic Centre site.

Also discussed were the investment of council cash and authorisation for the managing director Sid Pritchard to continue negotiations with the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust on the detail.

In an update on discussions with the PCT, Mr Pritchard said on both the redevelopment of the current site and new development on the Civic Centre site, it was made clear the council was prepared to invest substantial capital to deliver improved health facilities.

The public preference of redevelopment had real concerns for the PCT, which believed the SHA would see such a proposal for an extended closure of the Pershore Hospital as an opportunity to transfer facilities to Evesham.

Officers had confirmed there was space for the hospital and health centre on the Civic Centre site and Mr Pritchard said the PCT accepted the idea in principle, subject to financial appraisal.

The PCT had asked for an early financial and business case, he added, so it could, presumably, be judged against the Heathlands option.

Early indications were that there was a deal to be done. Any deal would have to be approved by the District Valuer on behalf of the PCT and, as such, should give the council comfort.

Mr Pritchard said indications were that planning issues, particularly parking, were resolvable as part of a package of proposals involving council land adjacent to the Civic Centre and other PCT sites in the town.

He said: "A wider view of health provision in South Worcestershire may require a separate consultation but it may be that the local aspects are a precursor to the planning process when a clearer idea of the detailed proposals is available."

The annual meeting of the Friends of Pershore Cottage Hospital is this Monday, beginning at 7pm, in the committee room of the Civic Centre, Pershore.