RIBBLE Valley Conservatives, led by MP Nigel Evans, have stepped up their campaign to save the Slaidburn Country Practice.

Local councillor and surgery patient Ken Hind is to put the health centre on the agenda of the borough council.

The village’s county councillor, David Smith, is approach Lancashire County Council for its support.

And chairman of the Ribble Valley health committee Bridget Hilton is to take the issue to Lancashire Health and Housing Board.

Slaidburn Country Practice which faces closure within two years after the NHS published plans which would wipe out much of its budget.

If the Townend surgery closes, 1,000 patients would face journeys of eight miles to a doctor in Clitheroe.

Mr Evans, who has met Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over the issue, said: “This is an incredibly important matter.

“I put across the strength of feeling and the positive reasons why practices, such as Slaidburn, that serve a large rural area but with fewer patients must be considered specialist centres.

“Our communities have seen schools close and we do not want to see our doctors’ surgeries go the same way.”