ANTHONY Mann is way off the mark in his comments regarding Fairfield Hospital (Letters, August 20). I have no objection to strongly-held views but wild allegations are no substitute for considered thought and careful analysis and it is unfair to misrepresent others' views. Certainly I have never said what he alleges.
As someone who has lived adjacent to Fairfield Hospital since 1969, I was and still am well aware of the nature of Rochdale Old Road. Indeed, when the developments at Fairfield were proposed I told the Trust and the health authority not to underestimate potential traffic problems.
However, after listening to the debate my personal view was that the people of Bury deserved the £25million investment proposed to improve the hospital services and make them more efficient.
The opponents to the scheme, many of them opposed for their own personal political reasons, engaged in a disgraceful campaign of scaremongering. I also remember the meeting at St Bede's when it was stated that "patients would die in ambulances; unborn babies would be put at risk" etc. The messengers of doom have been shown to be wrong.
Regarding the current debate, anyone can express a view. No-one is "gagged" and certainly not by me. Furthermore, I know of no plans to close Fairfield but if there were I would certainly be at the front of any campaign to ensure its survival.
COUNCILLOR JOHN BYRNE,
leader of the council.
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