Hopes for hospital building bid

Health campaigners in Ludlow will learn during the second week of February whether their bid to build a new £30 million hospital has been successful.

The Department of Health is set to announce its decision on the plans in six weeks.

And one of the prime movers in Ludlow’s bid to get a new community hospital today described himself as optimistic that the town would receive good news.

Ludlow residents launched a plan to build a new hospital after defeating a Primary Care Trust proposal to axe the town’s existing hospital.

The League of Friends for Ludlow Hospital, South Shropshire District Council and other groups formulated a scheme for a not-for-profit company to take control of the planned new unit.Today Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, who represents Ludlow town centre on the district council and is vice-chairman of the League of Friends, said a decision would be made in six weeks.

He said: “We are expecting to hear the decision during the second week of February. There are only six schemes around the country that are being considered by the Department of Health and ours is one of them. I am optimistic.”

If Ludlow is chosen as a pilot community venture it will get a share of £250 million available nationally for capital development.