WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones says that a new ‘state-of-the-art’ hospital must be accessible for all residents of the town.

Plans to move Warrington Hospital from its present site on Lovely Lane were outlined by the trust’s chief executive Mel Pickup in February.

Mrs Jones has repeatedly stated that the hospital could be moved to a site south of the Manchester Ship Canal, and recently met with Ms Pickup to discuss the plans.

She said: “It was a productive meeting and we both agree that the current buildings are outdated.

“However, I made it clear that any future plans for a new hospital must be on a site that is accessible for all the people of Warrington.

“Together with Cllr Morgan Tarr, I pointed out that the wards with the lowest levels of car ownership are in the north of the town.

“We also made clear that future proposals must tackle the health inequalities in the town, not reinforce them.

“Siting a new hospital south of the ship canal would not only hugely disadvantage wards like Orford and Poplars and Hulme but would be very difficult for those living in areas like Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, Birchwood and Burtonwood and Winwick to access.

“These proposals will not become a reality until far in the future but it is my view that consultation needs to be held before, not after, a site is chosen and that I, together with councillors in the north of the town along with those in areas like Penketh, will not allow the needs of the people we represent to be ignored.”