AN ACTION group has been formed to protest against the proposed location of a new critical treatment hospital.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is proposing to build a huge £150million hospital on a greenfield site on the north side of the A30 near junction 7 of the M3.

The hospital will treat tens of thousands of critically-ill patients each year and will be built alongside a new £18.5million cancer treatment centre.

But concerns over traffic, noise and light pollution, and the effect the development will have on the rural landscape have been raised, and North Waltham Action Group has been formed to voice these concerns.

Christine Rowley, one of those behind the group, told The Gazette: “We have concerns about this being built on a greenfield site.

“A developer would not be able to build houses or shops there, and just because this is a hospital, it should not be treated any differently.

“Planning regulations and policies should still apply to the NHS trust. There has been no consultation with local residents and a lot of people around here feel very strongly about this.”

The group, which currently has around 90 members, believes that transport links are not good enough to allow families to visit patients and that North Waltham is in danger of being ‘joined up’ to Basingstoke if the plans are approved.

Mrs Rowley said: “We are not against this hospital being built, but we do not feel this is the right place. It would be better to look at brownfield sites closer to Basingstoke which can be more easily accessed.”

Peter and Jackie Osmond, who have lived in North Waltham for nearly 40 years, added they have concerns about a “significant increase in traffic” through the village, which they said is already a “rat-run.”

Stafford Napier, who lives in nearby village Dummer, said: “While I am not able to judge the correctness or otherwise of the medical case for centralising critical care and maternity facilities, I find the evidence that it should be located at Junction 7 of the M3 less than convincing.

“There are uncertainties in the trust’s figures on ambulance travel times and common-sense would tell you that it is going to be very inconvenient to place a cancer treatment and birthing centre serving not only Basingstoke but also Chandler's Ford, Andover and Winchester much closer to Basingstoke than in a more central location.

“If green fields and open countryside have to be sacrificed, let’s at least make sure it’s in the right place.”

A full planning application is set to be submitted in March, and will be followed by a public consultation. The tender for the work should be completed by November, and health watchdog Monitor will then be invited to approve the plans.

If approved, building work on the emergency hospital should begin in 2016, and it should be opened by the end of 2018.

Mary Edwards, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We understand that local people will have questions and concerns and we are keen to listen to them.

“To help address any concerns, and share our proposals, we will be holding two public drop-in exhibitions where the plans will be on display, and all are welcome to attend. The feedback we receive will help to shape our plans.

“Before Christmas, we also held a public meeting at Basingstoke Golf Club to enable local people to hear about our plans and to raise their questions and concerns.”

The drop-in exhibitions will be held on Wednesday, February 4, between 2pm and 5pm, and on Thursday, February 5, between 5pm and 8pm at Basingstoke Golf Club, in Kempshott Park.