CAMPAIGNERS collected more than 1,500 signatures backing the Gazette’s campaign to keep urology cancer surgery in Colchester.

The NHS wants one surgery centre for Essex, which could see Colchester’s unit close.

         Click HERE to sign the petition.

Colchester MP Will Quince led the team collecting signatures outside Asda, in Turner Rise.

He said: “We must do all we can to to stress how important this facility is here. The vast majority of people we spoke to were happy to add support.

Gazette:

“We backed the Gazette campaign because it is a good campaign and the response from the public was that they agreed.”

Mr Quince was joined bya fellow Tories, former councillors Sonia Lewis and Robert Davidson, councillors Kevin Bentley Dennis Willetts, Darius Laws and Ben Locker and supporters Peter Sheane, Anne Allan, Michael Brown, Christine Willetts and Sue Sybrett.

However, he stressed the issue was not party political.

He said: “We were not there as Conservatives, but as individuals who care about our community.”

The names will be added to our online petition, which has nearly 500 signatures.

The Gazette has also received more than 200 letters of support, many from patients who have undergone surgery in Colchester.

The petitions and letters will be presented to NHS England in September.

You can sign our online petition at change.org Alternatively, write to gazette.newsdesk@nqe.com telling us why you support the campaign.

Anyone needing more information, should call 01206 508288.

  • The petitioners were issued with parking tickets as they were in the Asda car park for too long as they collected signatures.
  • However, Asda rescinded the tickets and said they were issued automatically. Mr Quince said: “Asda has been fantastic, totally supportive.” 

Read more about our campaign and download posters and petitions by clicking HERE.