A GLIMMER of hope has appeared for the future of eye care in Bromsgrove.

Chairman of the district council health and leisure scrutiny committee Cllr June Griffiths (Con-Alvechurch) feels "cautiously optimistic" that the town's ophthalmology services can be saved.

Her confidence follows a stakeholder meeting, organised by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, in Redditch, which was held last Tuesday.

It was decided a consultation period should be held to discuss whether eye care services are moved from the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch to Kidderminster and Worcester.

Residents feel strongly the services should stay after many donated to an Advertiser/Messenger appeal in £70,000 to buy an eye laser in 2000.

Trust chairman Michael O'Riordan said: "In view of the claims and counter-claims that have been made about our supposed plans for the service, it was important for us to demonstrate that we are genuinely prepared to involve and work collaboratively with stakeholders."

Cllr Griffiths said she felt the consultation period, lasting until Monday March, 31, would give Bromsgrove District Council another chance to argue for keeping the services.

She spoke out at last Wednesday's full council meeting after the health and leisure scrutiny committee voted unanimously to save the services last Monday.

At the same meeting, councillors lodged a unanimous vote to save Blackmore House, the School Drive home for elderly earmarked for closure.

Campaigners were getting ready to pound the streets on Friday in protest to county council's proposals to demolish the home and build very sheltered accommodation.