A VETERAN campaigner for a new Malvern hospital is calling on townspeople to build it themselves.

Pat Merrick of the hospital's league of friends says she is less and less convinced the PCT will do the job.

"If we were allowed to build at the Seaford Court site we could lease the hospital to the PCT. Pershore have done just that," she said.

"If we built on the site recently offered, the Seaford Court site could be sold."

She said the building of St Richard's Hospice and extension of Tenbury Wells Community Hospital were "two good examples of the public deciding that enough was enough and building what they wanted".

She called for town, district and county councils to get together with MP Sir Michael Spicer and a professional fundraiser for the project.

"It would be quicker, cheaper and more efficient, and tailor-made for the foreseeable future," she said. But it would need wholehearted backing from Malvern residents.

Her call was backed by county councillor Penelope Morgan, who said: "The only way we're going to get a new hospital any time soon is if we think of new ideas to pay for it."

Town council chairman Ralph Madden said: "We've got to think 'outside the box' a bit more if we want a chance of anything happening."

The council will defer its December 9 public meeting, which Sir Michael Spicer was due to attend, until the New Year, when a clearer picture might be available.

The future of the hospital project was thrown into doubt with the announcement last week that PCT chief executive Mike Ridley is leaving to take an acting-chief executive post in Stoke-on-Trent.

His replacement, Paul Bates, said he would not comment on the Malvern Hospital project until he had taken up his post in November.

Alec Kendall, of the PCT, is meeting MHDC's overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday, October 18, at Priory Lodge Hall, Avenue Road, at 6pm.

Committee chairman Tom Wells invited local residents to attend.

"There are an awful lot of questions that need urgent answers with regard to the new hospital and the health centre in Pickersleigh Road," he said.

n THE plan for a new health centre at the council depot on Pickersleigh Road, Malvern, is on the agenda for a meeting next week.

District council planning officers are recommending that the application by Alfred McAlpine is approved.

The centre is intended to provide a new home for the Court Road and Victoria Park surgeries.

Also recommended for approval is the conversion of the old Charlesworth factory at Link Top into 14 flats and a plan to build six houses on an industrial site at Somers Park Avenue.

The meeting is on Wednesday, October 19, at Priory Lodge Hall, at 7pm.