It’s exactly 12 months ago that we rejoiced in the news that after nearly two decades of delay the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Group had voted for Option 1 – the redevelopment of Watford into a world class hospital as well as investment into St Albans and Hemel Hospitals.

But has this victory led to complacency in Watford?

It is reported that a well-financed campaign being run from Hemel wants to reverse that decision.

It is reported that in October there will be a judicial review of the trust’s decision.

Campaigners in Hemel haven’t given up on their campaign to move West Herts main hospital out of Watford.

Should they succeed, it could put the investment in our hospitals back another decade.

The poor condition of the hospital’s estate will not survive another ten years.

We need a community campaign involving all parties to back the trust’s original decision and ensure the Government knows it has our strong support.

The trust needs to be a driving force in this campaign as well circulating information that can be used in our community campaign.

The bond between our local NHS, our hospital and Watford’s community has never been stronger than during this Covid crisis.

Let’s translate that strength into ensuring our new hospital gets built here.

Mike Jackson, Kingsfield Road, Watford