Royston’s MP wants the town’s hospital site to be redeveloped.

Oliver Heald said: “I know there are some people who have a great sentimental attachment to the building and some people have asked for it to be listed and protected.

“My own feeling is that we need new buildings for our health and social care, and this is the largest investment that Royston has ever seen.

“It would be wrong to turn our back on that.

“I want Royston to have new buildings for the future and get as many facilities for the town as possible.

Mr Heald, who has been a long-standing member of the Friends of Royston Hospital, agreed with a statement recently issued by the group, which states progress on the new building on the London Road site needs to start.

A statement from the Friends, which has been agreed by the Royston Hospital Action Group (RHAG), said: “We urge the town to back the North Hertfordshire PCT and Hertfordshire County Council to promote the building of hospital community facilities on the Long Road site along with the care home.” 

Chris Cowsley, chairman of RHAG, said: “If the agreed statement could provide us with a new hospital we would be delighted.

“What we don’t want is selling off any part of the asset to a private company that is no longer answerable to the people of Royston who originally provided it.”

Health bosses plan to transform the hospital site into a care home run in conjunction with Hertfordshire County Council and a private company.

A planning application for a £1m extension to Royston’s Health Centre, in Melbourn Street, to house the hospital’s outpatient services is awaiting approval from North Hertfordshire District Council.

Mr Heald added: “The campaigners are quite entitled to go down to Number 10 and hand in their petition [against selling parts of the hospital’s assets to a private company] there.

“I have given them the details of how to do that, but the decision will be made locally.

“The chief executive of NHS Hertfordshire, Jane Halpin, has confirmed that she will seriously consider the action group’s proposals, if a proper business case is put forward. 

“Time is pressing. It is important that progress is made with the building on the London Road site before the NHS property company takes over the site in April. 

“I have been treated at the hospital in the past for physiotherapy and my family have been treated there over the years.

“I have a lot of attachment to the hospital and in the past, when there have been proposals to close it, I have led campaigns against that.

“This is the time to keep services in the town, but delivered in new buildings.”