Supports grows to save old hospital building (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Supports grows to save old hospital building

SUPPORT for Cirencester's Old Memorial Hospital has continued to grow with over 840 people backing the Standard's campaign to save the historic building from demolition.

Cotswold District Council, which owns the building, is proposing to knock down the former hospital to provide more car parking spaces.

A planning application is currently being prepared.

Cirencester Civic Society is opposing the council's plans to bulldoze the building and many residents want the building to be saved.

Moira Gobey, 69, of Sapperton, owes her life to the hospital.

She was born there prematurely on November 28 1932 and spent her first few months in an incubator.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the hospital," she said. "It's disgraceful to think about demolishing it."

Eileen Smith, from Oaksey, said: "It's a beautiful old building. "It would be a crying shame to knock it down. Lots of people's lives have been saved at that hospital. There are enough car parks anyway."

Sandra Armstrong, of Springfield Road, Cirencester worked at the Old Memorial Hospital as a domestic manager and her children were married in the registry office at the hospital.

She said: "I think it's an absolute disgrace that the council can even consider demolishing the Old Memorial Hospital.

"I'm sure they could find somewhere else to build a car park instead of pulling down a perfectly decent building."

Lesley Richards, who married her second husband Dave at the registry office in the OMH building in 1993, said: "The thought of this historic old building being demolished to make way for a car park fills us with sadness. We feel the OMH has brought us luck and happiness."