A PETITION with more than 2,500 signatures opposing the proposals to close Chase Hospital's only ward has been handed to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The petition, organised by the Chase League of Friends, was handed to Mr Blair last Thursday by Bordon's MP James Arbuthnot.

It follows the promise by the Prime Minister last month that he will look into the issues surrounding the Chase proposals after being quizzed by Mr Arbuthnot during Prime Minister's Question Time.

Mr Arbuthnot said: "The size of this petition leaves in no doubt the strength of feeling locally on this issue."

Another two copies of the petition, along with copies of letters and articles by The Herald, have been handed to the health chiefs who are proposing the ward closure, making sure that all key players are aware of public opposition to the plans.

League of Friends chairman John Moody told The Herald: "We are very pleased with the response that we have got from all of this and now we are concentrating on making sure that people know about the next public meeting on January 17."

Campaigners have continued to be busy, with volunteers delivering around 20,000 "Save the Chase" leaflets to homes in Whitehill, Bordon, Greatham, Kingsley, Lindford, Stanford, parts of Liphook and Headley, as part of a joint initiative by local churches called Heartbeat.

Campaigner Rev Hazel O'Sullivan, from St Mark's Shared Church, said: "We have also put leaflets in doctors' surgeries, some shops, clubs etc and more are available from me if anyone would like them.

"We are encouraging people to write, even if they signed the petition, as a letter gives them a chance to state their views.

"To help those who haven't had time we will have a table and writing materials in the Forest Centre tomorrow (Saturday) from 10-30 am so shoppers can write a letter and leave it with me for posting.

"At the same time, singers from St Matthew's and St Mark's will be singing carols and collecting for good causes.

"Local people have been very positive about the church initiative and a number have phoned offering time and expertise, as well as encouragement in our efforts.

"People locally are delighted that Bordon is fighting the closure proposal and that the Prime Minister has agreed to investigate. We are nonetheless aware that we need to keep up the fight if we are to persuade the health authority to think again.

"We are keen that people locally should recognise that all their letters are vital because, although the ward is primarily for the elderly, its closure will ultimately have an effect on the whole community. Other facilities at the hospital will inevitably be affected.

"This is a situation where the community needs to band together and support one another, young and old, if the heart isn't to be ripped out of our town in the name of financial economies."

News of the petition coincided with the government's announcement on the same day that all health authorities were being given a cash injection to reform and improve the National Health Service.

Health secretary Alan Milburn told the Commons that in return for the extra money he expected to see a range of improvements.

The North and Mid Hampshire Health Authority, which together with the local Primary Care Trust put the Chase Hospital proposals forward, has had its coffers boosted by 9.8 per cent.

This means that its core funding will amount to £381,685,000 - an increase of £33.9 million on last year.

Health authority spokesman Adrian Osborne said that after inflation the increase in real terms amounted to a 7.12 per cent - £24.7 million.

Mr Osborne said that while the health authority was pleased with the extra funding p Continued on Page 7.