Angry residents are to petition the Prime Minister in a bid to raise cash after hearing that plans for Ludlow’s multi-million “health village” are under threat.

The online petition calls for Gordon Brown to help secure funding for the £30 million hospital on a new site on the town’s eco-park.

The proposal ground to a halt recently after health officials warned campaigners of possible health cuts.

The primary care trust’s project board and local stakeholders heard that cash was “unlikely” to come from central government, hindering the initial funding bid for the project.

The news came as bosses at Shropshire’s PCT pledged to explore alternative sources of funding needed to build the centre on the town’s eco-park.

But today campaigners hit back with the petition. It reads: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to provide the funding for the planned new hospital in Ludlow, Shropshire, a facility that is much needed and supported by the community.

“Plans for a new ‘health village’ style facility have been drawn up and met with almost unanimous support and approval. Now the Government has decided not to fund the scheme after all.

“We feel that this is yet another body blow for rural communities and ask the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision and to allow this much-needed facility to go ahead.”

Peter Corfield, chairman of Ludlow Hospital’s League of Friends, said he was “positive” that the news was just a minor hiccup and the move would not threaten the plan.

A letter to the PCT from the Strategic Health Authority said: “It remains the case that the SHA supports an innovative redevelopment of community health services in Ludlow.

“I would wish to stress that (our) support goes beyond encouragement from the sidelines and will include working with you on exploring the technicalities of other funding routes.”

For further information visit http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/LudlowHospital

By Sophie Bignall