WITH the start of construction work already a year adrift of the original timetable, Blackburn's £90 million new super hospital at Queen's Park suffers a second setback in as many months.

First, it was a hold-up over the issuing of the bond needed to bring in investors in the private-sector funded project. Now, there is new delay as councillors are being advised to reject revised plans for the building because design watchdogs say it would look unattractive.

They don't like plans to give it a reflective aluminium roof and alterations which would make its facade "bulky and defensive".

Now, it is a question of either going back to the original design approved last year or drawing up a new set of proposals, which would, no doubt, add to the delays that have already dogged this vital development.

But while few would argue with the desire that the Queen's Park super hospital be good in its appearance as well as its performance - especially when it will be a major East Lancashire landmark - can we now expect an end to the hitches?

Let us have the contact agreed and work started on what have East Lancashire Hospitals Trust chief executive John Thomas hopes will be the best possible hospital building that can be afforded within the funding available.