AT last officials have reacted to two years of campaigning by this newspaper to highlight the fears of staff, unions and local residents about security at Calderstones hospital.

The backgrounds of the types of patients being housed in the medium secure section of the hospital - including people with records for sex offences and arson - and the open atmosphere of the rest of the complex led to widespread worry in and around Whalley. The construction of a new housing estate and plans for a primary school alongside the hospital grounds and a series of worrying incidents heightened fears and brought calls for action from Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans.

But management constantly sought to reassure and insisted there was no serious cause for concern - until today that is.

Now we hear that a committee, which has been meeting in secret, has drawn up a detailed plan with 20 recommendations for improving security and safety.

The committee, which included a range of experts in mental health provision who had no connection with the hospital, is understood to be putting forward plans for fencing 25% of the site which is unfenced, restricting public access to the grounds, tightening exit security and improving the training and expertise of staff.

The first question raised by this revelation is: Why has it taken a year to get these recommendations together - and by doing so acknowledge that there is a problem?

This newspaper was campaigning for just such action more than a year ago but was told it was not needed.

In the meantime we have managed to uncover continuing examples of what Calderstones management refer to as "incidents."

Today, for example we highlight how in the past few weeks:

Police with dogs and firearms were involved in a search for a patient who went on the run from the medium secure unit and was reported to have a knife.

A member of staff is believed to have lost consciousness and turned blue when a patient tried to strangle him. Police are investigating the attack.

An investigation has been launched into a possible assault on a nine-year-old girl visitor by a patient. The girl fell in the hospital grounds.

The runaway was apparently on a visit from the medium secure unit at the complex to the less secure education unit when he ran off.

He was missing for about an hour and managed to travel almost two miles before being caught and is now, we are told, under 24-hour supervision.

Like so many other things involving Calderstones action always seems to come AFTER the event.

The second question to be asked by those with the safety of local residents, staff AND patients at heart is: We've had to wait a year for these proposals to be put together - How long will it take the authorities to approve and implement them and how many more incidents will take place before then?

Of course these plans are welcome in principle. But we will reserve judgement until we have more details of what is proposed and are told how quickly they can be put into effect.

One thing is for sure. We've had enough delay: action must be speedy and effective.