Public thumbs-down to closure of centre
A WHOPPING 8,200 people have signed the Mail’s petition to save the Margaret Stanhope Centre — giving a resounding thumbs-down to health chiefs’ proposal to close it.
In an astonishing display of people power, young and old of all political persuasions belied Burton’s reputation for apathy by endorsing the Save Our Stanhope (SOS) campaign on paper and online.
They signed up during four weeks of protest which have run in parallel with the public consultation on health chiefs’ plans to close the Margaret Stanhope as part of a restructuring of inpatient psychiatric services.
The Mail will now present the names to the proposals’ architects, South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation, which must ensure they are taken into account before the final decision on the unit is taken.
“I am delighted so many people have signed the petition and thank them on behalf of the campaign,” said Mail editor Kevin Booth.
“Their number shows the strength of feeling for a much-loved institution which has played a key role in the care of our community.
“Health chiefs must now show their consultation was meaningful by heeding popular will and ensuring the service provided by the Margaret Stanhope remains in Burton.” Burton MP Andrew Griffiths said: “The community in Burton and East Staffordshire has united to speak with one voice over the proposed closure.
“The fact that so many residents took time to sign the petition shows the level of feeling and support there is for the Margaret Stanhope.
“This must not be dismissed by those taking the decision as just another petition.
“So many organisations and agencies across the borough have raised their particular concerns and objections, and when combined with this massive petition it seems a voice of opinion that must simply not be ignored.”
Labour councillor Ron Clarke thanked backers of the Mail’s campaign and those who made their feelings known at public consultation meetings.
“It gives the campaign more strength, especially now Trent and Dove Housing has put the icing on the cake by opposing closure,” he said.
“If this doesn’t convince health chiefs, I don’t know what will.”
Dr Matt Long, leader of the Friends of Margaret Stanhope Forum, said the signatories had sent a ‘categorical no’ from Burton which health chiefs had to recognise.
“I would say political apathy is a greater threat to Burton than any hospital closure — and we’ve avoided that apathy,” he said.
“In 20 years’ time people will look back and recognise that when the moment came we stood up to be counted.”
