THE article in the Bury Times (Jan 11), headed "Every Second Counts", provided a perfect slogan for the campaign being organised as a result of a well-attended meeting at Bury Town Hall on Wednesday, Jan 9, organised by Bury Pensioners Association.

The subject under discussion at the meeting, addressed by chief officer of Bury Community Health Council, Paul Reynolds, and Conservative councillor and member of the Community Health Council, Dorothy Gunther, was the need for a dedicated road to serve Fairfield General Hospital and avoid the horrendous conditions on the B622 (Rochdale Old Road, Bury).

The article made the point that every second counts when seriously-ill patients are being transported to the Accident & Emergency Department. And is as certain as night follows day that at some time an ambulance carrying your child, your parent, your loved one, will be delayed on the B622, resulting in an avoidable death. The meeting, having heard the case put by the two speakers and after some discussion, agreed unanimously to launch the campaign to convince the council that, unless this road is built, someone will die as a result. I wonder if our councillors will be able to sleep at night in the knowledge that their inaction has contributed to an innocent death.

So, we call on all concerned citizens to write, phone or email your local councillors demanding that this matter be made a top priority.

A petition is available which calls on Bury MBC to "take all necessary steps to improve the access to Fairfield General by the building of a dedicated road to the hospital from the Heap Bridge motorway roundabout". Copies can be obtained by calling 01706 368160 or 0161 280 3162.

Finally, it was pointed out at the meeting that the route of the road would, of course, be decided by the engineers. What we have to do is make absolutely sure that the principle is accepted and the job done.

P. KAISERMAN, chairman,

Bury Pensioners Association.