5:22pm Tuesday 20th October 2009
By Michael Pickard
Plans to halt the £1billion Watford Health Campus would be a “disaster”, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Watford has said.
Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning, a member of the Conservatives' shadow health team, told the Watford Observer last week that he would reopen the debate about where a new hospital to serve west Hertfordshire should be, should the Tories win the next General Election.
He said he favoured possible locations in Kings Langley or Breakspeare Way, in Hemel Hempstead, over redeveloping Watford General Hospital.
However, Sal Brinton has now written to Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, to clarify plans for a review of hospital services.
She said: “This project is not just of great importance to the Watford but the whole of south west Hertfordshire.
“To stop and review [the project] at this stage would be a waste of more than £40m that has already been spent. This would be a disaster for everybody including Mr Penning's constituents who would have to continue to use the facilities here in Watford without any improvements whilst a review took place.
“I have written to seek clarification on the Conservative position on this. I will continue to support the Health Campus.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk