New bid to save Haslar backed by Shadow Home Secretary

Chris Huhne, the Shadow Home Secretary and Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, has launched a new Liberal Democrat website, www.gosportfocus.co.uk, and an online campaign to save Haslar Hospital.

Chris Huhne called on Gosport residents to visit the website and to sign the online petition which calls on the MOD to hand over the site to a Council-led partnership which plans to take it over and keep beds and services open. He also warned that the Tories were not to be trusted on health issues.

Huhne said that the Liberal Democrats were now the only party committed to saving Haslar following The News’ report which revealed that the Tory leader David Cameron thought Haslar has no future, adding that Gosport Conservatives cannot even convince their own party leadership to support Haslar. Chris Huhne gave support to the local Liberal Democrats’ efforts to find a viable future for the Haslar site which ensures beds and health services are kept on after the Ministry of Defence leaves.

The Gosport Liberal Democrat plan includes redeveloping part of the site to pay for the cost of keeping 250 beds open plus clinical services and medical research. Gosport Council’s Lib Dem administration has been in talks with developers who are prepared to back the bold plan to keep the historic hospital open, but they say that the public’s support is vital to its success.