ALCESTER Town councillors reported a successful meeting with the parties involved in the troubled £3 million hospital development last Monday.

Councillors stepped in and called the urgent meeting in the hope Warwickshire Care Services, South Warwickshire Combined Care NHS Trust and Warwickshire Health Authority could iron out differences over the partnership project before the three-month deadline set by WCS.

Each party at the meeting confirmed their commitment to providing new facilities, where it was also suggested a revised project may be in the pipeline.

Trust chief executive Catherine Griffiths said the social services department and health authority would meet next month to review the original hospital development in light of a national NHS plan which dictates a significant investment in intermediate care, which applies to Alcester.

She said: "In the original plan there were only 12 health care beds and Alcester currently has 22 so there may be a rethink in terms of numbers and volume outlined in the plan two or three years ago.

"We are committed to replacing the Primary Care Centre and redeveloping it, whether this happens on our own or with other partners."

Mayor Eric Payne said: "We are hopeful something good may still come of this."

WCS chief executive Rory Duff said: "The meeting was useful as all the relevant people were there to talk over the various options.

"Once we have information on what services need to be bought, we will be able to proceed one way or another."