Save the Alex drive scheduled for carnival

Buy photos » Labour leader Coun Peter McDonald, Save the Alex campaign organiser Neal Stote and Bromsgrove District Council leader Coun Roger Hollingworth. Picture by Tristan Harris.

THE MAN behind the campaign to save services at the Alexandra Hospital has urged residents to come and sign the petition in Bromsgrove tomorrow (Saturday).

Neal Stote issued the rallying call as it was confirmed the petition, which has now been signed by more than 23,000 people.

He and other members of Save the Alex will be in the town from around 10am.

Weather permitting, representatives will hopefully be taking part in the Bromsgrove Carnival trolley parade and have a stall in the arena at Sanders Park.

But, alternatively, the campaigners will be in Bromsgrove High Street.

Mr Stote told The Standard: "We are getting a lot of interest in the campaign from Bromsgrove people and many have already signed the petition, but we still need more."

He added, that with just the highway between this town and Redditch, the Alex was the preferred hospital for vital services, such as A&E and maternity.

Mr Stote also hit out at the organisers of the public meetings being held to outline the clinical models for the future of healthcare in the county.

He said it was wrong to hold the Bromsgrove one during the day when many people were at work and could not get there.

The Bromsgrove event was held at Churchfields Surgery on June 27 from 10am to 2pm.

Most of the others, for example the ones in Redditch, have been held in the evenings, starting at 5pm or 6pm.

"I would encourage the trust to organise another meeting in Bromsgrove at a bigger, more suitable venue, such as Artrix, and at a more sensible time."

He added even holding it on a Saturday would be better for a lot of people.

A spokesperson from the NHS Acute Hospitals Trust said: "We are at a very early stage - there will be a lot more public engagement events at the end of August, which is further on in the process."

To add your name to the ever-growing list, sign the paper petition at our office, 44 High Street, Bromsgrove, fill out and send the coupon on this page or visit epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34936

A petition will also be outside Bromsgrove’s Asda from 10am to 4pm next Saturday (July 14).

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