MAY I through your newsletter column thank the 387 people who responded to our questionnaire about the Pershore Cottage Hospital, 96 per cent of them wanted the hospital to be rebuilt on the present site.

They were as angry about the loss of elderly care beds in Heathlands as they were about the plan to sell the Cottage Hospital.

The Pershore Town Council rejected as totally unacceptable the sale of the Cottage Hospital. I gave the 96 percent opinion and a copy of the many sensible comments received to the chairman of the PCT, David Barlow. Our MP, Sir Michael Spicer, raised our case in a House of Commons debate.

The PCT chief officer, Mike Ridley, has repeatedly said that he would look at other options. Wychavon District Council now has two proposals for rebuilding the hospital. Rebuilding the hospital with Wychavon money ought to persuade the PCT to extend its consultation and listen to what the Pershore people want.

Many thanks again to all those of your readers who showed how much they cared for the Pershore Cottage Hospital.

RICHARD HAMPTON, Mayor of Pershore, Bridge Street, Pershore.