The people of Tenby must be prepared to protest on the streets for a new community hospital, a leading local campaigner claimed this week.

After attending a meeting of the Pembrokeshire Health Board, the chairman of CATCH (Campaign for Action on Tenby Cottage Hospital), Clr. Michael Williams, is urging residents to get ready to vent their feelings as he demands answers on the funding of the proposed facility for the town.

"It was announced at a meeting of the Pembrokeshire Health Board last Wednesday that a sum of £4.3 million is to be spent on South Pembrokeshire Hospital, Pembroke Dock," Clr. Williams told the Observer afterwards.

"When asked if this spend was part of the £4 million announced in the National Assembly in the spring, the chairman confirmed that this was the case. He further stated that the remaining money was to be spent in the south-east Pembrokeshire area, not necessarily on a new hospital in Tenby.

"The question must be asked 'Who is telling the truth?' When we met with the health minister recently, we were told that £4 million was ring fenced for Tenby. This was what was remaining from the £8 million announced earlier, for health services in south-east Pembrokeshire."

As a result of the meeting, Clr. Williams has written to the chairman of the Pembrokeshire Health Board requesting clarification on the issue.

The matter will also be raised in the National Assembly by the shadow health spokesman, Dr. Dai Lloyd, at the earliest opportunity.

"Both versions can't be right!" claimed Clr. Williams. "Once again we are being told apparent half truths. We must reiterate that we will accept nothing short of a new community hospital in Tenby. What we mean by that is a hospital with at least the same number of beds that we presently have in our Cottage Hospital. There can be no compromise.

"Such is the latest duplicity, the time might well be coming for the residents of Tenby to give vent to their feelings in a more direct way.

"We must now, however, reluctantly prepare to take our protest on to the streets, and even into the Trust and Board offices. Does anyone fancy a few days occupying some offices? It could be coming to this! The democratic system that we so cherish is being rapidly undermined, by the actions of these quangos. If democracy fails, what other option do we have?"