WARRINGTON Hospital could be set to close and move to a new location in the south of the town, says the town's MP.

Warrington North MP Helen Jones has claimed that the Lovely Lane site could be set to close in order to open a new facility off the Manchester Ship Canal, ‘close to rural Cheshire’.

She states that the plans were outlined by Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Mel Pickup during Wednesday’s meeting of the Warrington Borough Council health scrutiny committee.

Mrs Jones said that the proposal was ‘outrageous’ and would be ‘inaccessible for most of Warrington’.

She said: “This plan is outrageous and would massively disadvantage my constituents in Warrington North.

“This would create a Warrington Hospital which would be inaccessible for most of Warrington – I will do everything in my power to oppose these plan.

“Whilst a new hospital building would be welcome it would need to be at a site which is accessible to the majority of the town.

“This proposal would benefit rural Cheshire much more than Warrington.

“I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to discuss these plans.”

The Warrington Guardian has approached Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for a comment.