A CALL has been made to transplant the Royal Berkshire Hospital from Reading to Wokingham borough.
Speaking at a meeting of the executive, Wokingham Borough Council leader Cllr John Halsall said that Shinfield would be best placed for a more accessible site.
The Wokingham Conservative group has launched a petition which it can present to the government as a sign of residents’ support for the plan.
It comes days after Reading Borough Council expressed their concerns over the proposal.
In the meeting, held on Thursday, February 17, Cllr Halsall said: “We are very enthusiastic to support proposals for the RBH to relocate some or all the services to the borough, which would not only create economic opportunity, but also be integral to our health and wellbeing strategies for all our residents.”
The RBH is one of a number of hospitals that figure in the government’s plans to revamp healthcare.
The suggested site is part of a proposals to place 4,500 homes at the Hall Farm/Loddon Valley site, alongside the Thames Valley Science Park being developed by the University of Reading. The Rutherford Cancer Centre is already operating from Shinfield.
After the meeting Cllr Halsall said: “The current site for the RBH just doesn’t work – there is no room to expand facilities that are badly in need of updating.
“We believe that it makes sense for a new hospital to be built in Wokingham Borough in an area with good access and the space for an expansive and modern RBH.
“If you agree with our campaign, please show your support by signing our petition.”
This view was at odds with Reading, its deputy leader, Cllr Tony Page, said: “Excluding the hospital site, the Council has at this time not been provided with the necessary evidence to demonstrate how a housing and employment development on this scale could be highly accessible by public transport, walking and cycling, including links into central Reading.
“We would want to see much more clearly developed transport proposals before we could determine whether or not we agree with any proposal in principle.”
Cllr Charles Margetts, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said that the hospital was going to be rebuilt.
“Keeping the hospital at the current site would cause decades of disruption, and wouldn’t solve problems of accessibility, parking and room for expansion,” he said.
“Moving the hospital to Wokingham Borough, would allow for the building a bespoke facility, near to the M4 with good access and the right infrastructure.”
He added: “Back our campaign to provide better care, access and support facilities for patients, their families and staff.”
The petition can be seen at: ipetitions.com/petition/relocate-royal-berkshire-hospital
