Hundreds join fight to save bowls club
LDRSMore than 500 people have signed a petition opposing plans to replace an historic bowling club in Surrey with a new health hub.
Elmbridge Borough Council could sell part of the Walton-on-Thames Bowling Club to make way for the new facility, which would replace the town's community hospital.
The local authority called it a "once in a generation" chance to bring state-of-the-art health facilities to the town, while the NHS said it was a "fantastic opportunity".
But campaigners said the plans would erase years of history and the tight-knit community around the club.
A petition was launched two weeks ago in the hope of persuading North West Surrey NHS bosses to drop their plans to transform the site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.
Campaigners say the hub should be built as an extension to the existing hospital.
Councillor Gregor Macgregor, also a campaigner, said: "Almost 80% of the people asked to sign have signed.
"People really want to keep our hospital and not lose our bowls club."
'Fantastic opportunity'
Members of the council's cabinet have robustly defended potentially selling the site, which has been occupied by the bolwing club since 1922.
He said not selling to the NHS would be a "dereliction of duty".
The hub would include seven additional services, including mental health support, complex-wound care and maternity services.
If the Elm Grove sale does not go ahead, the NHS investment will not be used elsewhere in the borough.
A spokesperson for North West Surrey Alliance said: "The Elm Grove site gives a fantastic opportunity to create a purpose-built, modern healthcare facility.
"It will support the provision of a wider range of health and care services locally and will also provide a healthcare legacy to the people of Walton-on-Thames.
"The NHS is not the owner of the Elm Grove site. We are supporting council colleagues in discussions with their tenant."
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