ANGRY campaigners have gathered hundreds of signatures in a bid to save “the last green lung” between Nelson and Colne.

Local residents have formed a protest group against a proposal to develop of Gib Hill in Nelson as a potential site for a new mental health hospital.

They have formed RAGE (Residents Against Gib Hill Exploitation) to save the site from being turned into East Lancashire’s £35million mental health hospital, that is part of a £150million invesment programme.

And local Labour MP Gordon Prentice, has been presented with the petition against the proposed development that will be issued to NHS bosses this weekend.

‘Keep Gib Hill Green’ campaigner and Labour Party activist, Dorothy Ormrod said the green field land, which is owned by Pendle Council, is ‘not for sale.’ She said: “I have campaigned long and hard to keep Gib Hill green and would like to thank every one who has signed the petition. I am sure that Lancashire Care Trust will be impressed by the weight of public opinion against their plans to make use of this lovely green space for their patients’ mental health facility.”

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, leader of the Labour Party in the borough, said he supported the petition.

He said: “Over the past 10 years, we have been working side by side with members of RAGE. We understand that there is a need for a mental health hospital, but just not in our area. Hopefully the signatures will show how passionate we are about this.”

And campaigners who will attend a meeting in Accrington this weekend are free to give the local trust their views as to where the hospital should be.

Dave Tomlinson, interim chief executive of the health trust, said: “The comments and opinions of everyone from staff, the people who use our services and their carers to voluntary organisations, primary care trusts and the general public are absolutely vital in helping shaping the future of mental health services in Lancashire.”