Watford's mayor and MP have put their political differences aside and joined forces to show their support for redevelopment plans for the town's hospital.
The Liberal Democrat Mayor and the Conservative MP have issued a joint statement in which they say it is "time to get behind West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust".
The trust is developing proposals to invest in its three hospitals in Watford, Hemel Hempstead, and St Albans. Last week, it secured planning permission from Watford Borough Council for a near-total rebuild of Watford General Hospital.
But amid fears that health bosses might have to work within a tighter budget than originally hoped, as well as continued calls from campaigners for a new hospital on a brand new site in south west Hertfordshire, Peter Taylor and Dean Russell have issued a rallying cry of support for the trust's current plans.
Together the pair, who clashed towards the end of last month over Watford Borough Council's Local Plan, said: "Watford needs new and better hospital buildings and we are closer than we have ever been to achieving this, not just for Watford residents, but for the entire population of West Hertfordshire.
"We are confident that the trust’s years of hard work and detailed examination of the facts, finances and feedback behind their proposal will deliver the best solution for hospital services across its three sites.
"Now is the time to get behind the trust as they put their case to the government’s New Hospital Programme to get the funding needed."
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Related: West Herts NHS Trust in battle for extra cash for redevelopment
The statement, which was issued on August 3, continues: "Attempts to deflect this focus with rehashing old arguments about alternative sites that we know have been shown to be unrealistic and unaffordable is doing a huge disservice to the rrust and, more importantly, to local people who deserve to see the transformational plans delivered as soon as possible. We don’t need another site, we just need the funding.
"We will both be writing to the New Hospital Programme to reiterate our support for the trust’s plans."
As part of the trust’s development proposals the lion’s share of the investment would be focussed on the Watford General site, with development including a tower up to 17 storeys high on a site next to the current hospital.
The Watford Labour party has also reiterated its support for the proposals.
Speaking on behalf of the party, Cllr Asif Khan said: "The redevelopment of Watford Hospital that will serve the whole of South West Hertfordshire, is so crucial that we cannot afford any further delays.
"The priority is for the funding to be found for the new hospital, which the government must provide and the Hospital Trust to be supported in its plans to build a truly modern and outstanding hospital.
"Watford Labour has campaigned for this hospital for decades. We will continue to support to have these facilities built in Watford and a major upgrade in Hemel and St Albans."
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