Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Hospital replacement seemingly doomed.

Trowbridge Area Board was very disappointed to learn that there has been no progress with the development of a Primary Care Centre.

NHS Wiltshire appears to have passed responsibility to the Bradford Road and Adcroft practices to bring forward a viable proposal, but rumours abound that the RUH Bath trust will take control.

It also now appears that due to the current economic climate only a single building to accommodate the relocated Bradford Road surgery and the Primary Care Centre is affordable. This could make it more difficult for the town's other two practices - Lovemead and Widbrook to access services for their patients.

The controversial Primary Care Centre was given outline planning consent earlier this year, to be built on land owned by NHS Wiltshire but currently used as a cricket ground. All beds at Trowbridge Hospital and the world-renowned Maternity Unit were closed following the decision to develop a Primary Care Centre, which would provide a range of diagnostic, clinical and treatment services, thereby reducing the need for patients to travel to General Hospitals such as those at Bath and Swindon.

It would now seem that the planning committee and the people of Trowbridge were mis-lead from day one.