Last updated 19:27, Thursday, 20 November 2008

AN ALLERDALE councillor has warned of the danger of a power struggle between district councils over the location of a new West Cumbrian district hospital.

Trevor Fee was spot-on when he warned of the risks if Copeland and Allerdale councils went head-to-head in an unsavoury scrap.

But we fear it is already too late.

Copeland council’s leader recently made the dramatic claim that Whitehaven would be “economically devastated” if the new district hospital was moved a few miles north.

There is certainly a concerted Copeland district campaign, led by its politicians, which is not helping the situation.

Is this really what we need; a turf war when we should be working together to find the best site for all?

Why such fierce rivalry?

This petty inter-district squabble will cloud the issue and taint any rational process.

For what it’s worth, we think that Lillyhall could indeed be a suitable hospital location, particularly when the new Distington bypass speeds up links.But it’s clearly not the end of the world if another site is deemed more appropriate.

Instead of making it an all-or-nothing issue, we’d rather celebrate the fact that we’re getting a new hospital at all, and concentrate on what services it might offer.

People will be asked via public consultation for their views next spring.

Let’s hope that common sense prevails.