Thanks for your article. "Analysis from Hampshire Together’s consultation on plans to build a new hospital ... shows that 70 per cent of respondents who live closest to Basingstoke hospital agreed with the proposal to separate planned care from specialist and emergency care, compared with only a third of respondents living closest to Winchester hospital (33 per cent)."

Surprise, surprise! They have spent several million pounds on a consultation. To come up with a conclusion which is - excuse my French - bleeding obvious! Basingstoke residents want a new hospital near them. We the people of Winchester aren't so keen.

And why? Because the "analysis" carefully doesn't mention an inconvenient truth. A new Basingstoke hospital will mean serious collateral damage for Winchester. It will mean shutting down Winchester's Accident and Emergency Unit, and downgrading our maternity provision. And when they're gone, they're gone.

The plan won't only affect the people of Winchester city but also - in no particular order - Hursley. Stanmore. Winnall. Weeke. Abbots Barton. Sparsholt. Stockbridge. Eastleigh. King's Somborne. Chandler's Ford. Colden Common. Alresford. Badger Farm. Four Marks. Otterbourne. Shawford. St Cross.

The new and fast-growing Kings Barton estate. And many more neighbouring towns, villages and communities. 

Plus the students at Winchester University (8,000), Sparsholt Agricultural College (5,000), Barton Peveril Sixth Form College (4,800). Peter Symonds College (4,500), Winchester School of Art (2,000).

The students at our large comprehensive schools: Henry Beaufort, Kings', Thornden, Westgate. Many more primary schools and nurseries than we can list. For the residents of St John’s Winchester sheltered housing and our many care homes. For the thousands of tourists and visitors who visit Winchester. To see our Cathedral and the Christmas Market… to visit our museums… art galleries… Winchester Science Centre… ARC… Jane Austen’s House… The Hospital of St Cross… Mottisfont… and many more cultural attractions. To visit our theatre, our cinema, shops, restaurants and cafes.

The so-called ‘consultation' only gave options for this new billion-pound hospital to be in Basingstoke or near Basingstoke. There was no option for a hospital near Winchester. 

And the “preferred location” for the new hospital is a greenfield site in Dummer near the M3. With absolutely no existing public transport links or infrastructure. 

Philip Glassborow,
Bereweeke Road,
Fulflood,
Winchester

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