Sir,
Further to my letter to the Tenby Observer, which featured in the edition dated August 15, I feel I must comment on the article 'The battle goes on' written by Marjorie Bevan, the local Tenby Labour Party secretary, that was published the following week commenting on my letter.
Firstly, may I say she is wrong to suggest that I have only sat on the sidelines and not participated in the discussions. I do not know what organisations she belongs to other than the Labour Party, on behalf of which I presume she is speaking, but she should have noted that in my letter I said I was at a CATCH meeting when a developer submitted an offer of a site in Penally overlooking Caldey for a new hospital free of charge. A spot, which in my opinion is particularly pleasant.
Would it not have been better if she had enquired of CATCH or her elected representatives from the Labour Party, Christine Gwyther, WAG Member, or Nicholas Ainger MP, whether this proposed site was put forward as a possible location for the hospital rather than the old Gas Works, and if not, why not?
At the CATCH meeting, the chairman, Michael Williams, asked for members of the public to leave the meeting. I was the only member of the public there. Due to the fact I had to leave, I can only guess what was done about the offer.
If the land option had been taken up, taxpayers' money would not now be needed to purchase the dismal Gas Works site and could have been used to help build the hospital.
I have attended meetings in Haverfordwest, Pembroke and Tenby, so please Mrs. Bevan, I do not need spin and certainly do not have the time to lobby Jane Hutt, WAG Minister for Health, as I am sure she is well aware of what the residents of south-east Pembrokeshire are asking for. We have been discussing a new hospital with in-patient beds for years.
Also, even at this late stage, if the local Labour Party Assembly Member Christine Gwyther and her Labour Party colleagues can get some credit from persuading Jane Hutt to overrule the Local Health Board, it might give us some faith in the Welsh Assembly Government.
Malcolm Calver,
Gleann-na-Coille,
Pembroke Road,
Manorbier.