Preston or South Ribble? Where YOU think new hospital should be built
The NHS this week announced that it had purchased the final part of the site where it plans to build a new Royal Preston Hospital.
The location - off Stanifield Lane in the Farington area of South Ribble - was originally revealed more than a year ago.
However, the fact that the replacement for the Royal Preston could be built beyond the city's borders prompted a huge reaction on our Facebook page - as did the 2037-2039 timeframe for when construction work is set to begin.
Here’s a flavour of your thoughts are both issues:
Linda Watson
Brilliant choice of site with easy access to 3 motorways. Just hope they have provision for adequate underground parking for both staff and visitors.
Sharon Heatley
Why can’t it be built NOW instead of having to wait? The Chinese would have it up and running within a week or two!
Susan Sumner
The hospital is a vital part of our community's healthcare, let's keep it local and ensure everyone has access to quality care without having to travel far. Hospital stays are bad enough.
Patrick Sinclair
Do you think we will ever have a government that can deliver this on time and budget....if at all?
Adam Smith
If this happens they need to seriously spend money on infrastructure and roads. Roads around that site are gridlock in rush hour already, never mind when adding a hospital.
Sean Casby
Needs to be in Preston.
Adarsh Jose Perekkatt
We need this hospital in the current site in Fulwood. A lot of empty buildings inside the current hospital site at the moment, so why can’t they demolish the empty buildings and [build] new [ones] in the existing place?
Dawn Dewhurst
It won't bother me; I will probably be pushing up the daisies by the time it opens.
Tracey Wilkinson
Personally I think they should have secured land at Cottam near the M55/M6, but I guess this is still better than the current location. Blackpool Vic is easier access for those west of Preston anyway.
Jackie Parker
It needs to kept close to the one [in] Fulwood.
Cllr Ben Ward - Ingol and Cottam
[It matters] if it makes it less accessible to the city's most vulnerable. Due to population size, Preston has the largest concentrations of both elderly and people struggling with poor health. It wouldn't be as big an issue if South Ribble and Preston united in the same area after local government reorganisation; however, this currently doesn't look likely - meaning public transport access will become more difficult to organise.
Paul Dobson
Always lived in Farington, green surroundings are declining by the day. Mixed feelings about this. If it does finally go ahead, I hope I'm still alive to use it.
Maggy Patterson
15-year waiting time.
Tom Smith
It’s only Bamber Bridge, easier to get to for most people, [I’d have] thought.
Elaine Leeming Lowe
I can't cope driving round South Ribble, personally - I end up losing it on those dual carriageways and roundabouts
Diane Nuttall
If there [are] plans of closing Chorley Hospital down slowly, this is much better for Chorley residents.
Adarsh Jose Perekkatt
We need this hospital in the current site in Fulwood. A lot of empty buildings inside the current hospital site at the moment, so why can’t they demolish the empty buildings and [build] new [ones] in the existing place?
Julia Waddington
Don't hold your breath. Nothing in tablets of stone.
David Parker
So Royal South Ribble Hospital then...
Dan Higginson
Royal Lancashire would be more fitting
Thomas Traynor
Smashing, can’t wait until the 2040s, just in time for my 100th birthday.
Martin Chambers
Most of our generation, that’s those in [our] late 50s, will never see it built.
Janet Ramsdale
So do we think that Preston might become the only city without a hospital?
Craig Thompson
I think the former Fishwick golf club site would have been a good place.
Lisa Jones
Centralised care facilities, if orchestrated well, should provide a better service for the wider surrounding areas.
The Preston site as is cannot take much more expansion (if any).
Peter Taylor
This make a new crossing of the Ribble linking up Edith Rigby Way, even more essential.
Doreen Dawson
From Fulwood down the M6 -10 mins. Max.
Alison Robinson
Unless there is an in incident on the motorway. Then if motorway traffic is moving slowly or even worse closed, Preston including Penwortham, Lostock Hall and Bamber Bridge become gridlocked for hours.
Nadine DollyDimples Reeves
Hopefully [there’ll] be a good bus link to it so local people don’t have to drive and fill up the car park
Russ Kay
RPH won’t cope for another decade - it’s on its knees today.
Pam Dean
So what will happen to the current Preston hospital?
Richie Hooton
Land will be sold of to highest bidder to recoup costs, presumably.
Carol Holmes
They should start the build now, as desperately needed.
Kay Beal
Ten years before they start …ludicrous
Bob France
The length of time it takes people to get through the queues at other local hospitals it would be better to keep the old one open when this one's built.
Vicky Brown
They won't have the staff to run it unfortunately
Andy Shenton
A decade before building starts! By then the cost will have gone through the roof and probably won't happen!
Ann Christopher
Too much traffic to get to hospital now, so better to move it.
Laura Brown
There's some real negative Nancy's on this - why can't you be happy and see the positives? A new hospital is being built and will be fit for purpose, instead of all the ‘I’ll be dead when it's done’ [and] moans about car parking etc..
Russell Carter
Why is it always a 'greenfield' site
Nadine Mason
Because it’s cheaper than excavating a used site.
Philip Walsh
I hope in the meantime, the land is going to be farmed.