Letter: Urging Salts to withdraw objections

After attending the public meeting which was held by the Salts in Ludlow, along with approximately 40 other people, I would like to urge Joyce Brand and her fellow Salts members to withdraw the 15-page dossier of objection they intend to send to the strategic health authority.

I would like to declare an interest in that in early 2008 I wrote a letter expressing concerns about the two GP surgeries moving from the town centre.

And some 10 months later Prue Bellak also wrote a very similar letter on February 6, 2009.

I attended the meeting with an open mind and was interested to hear both sides of the debate.

On hearing the opening statement from Joyce Brand, the two doctors proceeded to put forward the case for the movements and the repercussions for the future if the project is scrapped, a very real possibility if the Salts continue their campaign.

Ludlow is growing in size and more housing is planned and the facilities on offer, not just regarding health issues but also education, will need to be addressed.

While the Salts ponder the journey to the eco-park, I would like to point out the real possibility of having to travel to Shrewsbury, Hereford or even Telford in the future if, as expected, Ludlow's hospital is deemed unfit for purpose in the future.

As the lady who gave the closing statement proudly said, I have lived in Ludlow for four years and find the town a friendly place.

Please do not mistake that friendliness as a soft touch. A small minority must not be allowed to scupper the future for this town.

And I again urge Joyce Brand and her fellow members to accept the offer given by the two GPs and work with them and the local councillors to ensure adequate public transport is in place for all who will have to travel to what, potentially, is a facility that the whole of south Shropshire can be proud of.

John Morgan

Ludlow