In last week's Gazette (July 9) under News In Brief was an article entitled, "Nine sites for new hospital."

Basically Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said they'd nine sites where a new hospital could (note the word "could") be built, but they wouldn't say where they were. Then they went on to say that the next stage would be to look at the availability, affordability, and deliverability of those sites. Then there will be a consultation next year, perhaps.

What a load of old cobblers! This has been going on for years, planning permission has been given for a hospital to be built near North Waltham, but oh no that's not suitable. Now they are going to ponce around looking at sites where they don't even know if they'd get planning permission.

They haven't got nine sites where a new hospital "could" be built, they've got nine sites they probably picked out of fresh air (otherwise known as "a criterion of 36 points"), where they probably won't get planning permission. Now just add up the time involved, next year maybe a consultation (another complete waste of time), then ponce about a bit more, ask for planning permission, don't get it, go somewhere else, and so on. These boys (and girls) are experts at wasting time and money, they've done it in the past and they can do it again.

Basingstoke needs a new hospital, stop mucking about and build it out near North Waltham. Boris Johnson's new slogan is Build, Build, Build, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, so start building, where you know you can now!

Brian Simmonds, Belmont Heights, Hatch Warren