A £22million bid to breathe new life into Rochford Hospital has been hailed by councillors as the most significant development in the town for years.

The plans to redevelop part of the old hospital site into a new mental health unit have been well received by the council, although plans are at an early stage.

Under the proposals, day hospital, outpatient and drug or alcohol-related services provided at Rochford would be transferred to new facilities in Southend, leaving the site for in-patient care.

The new site will receive patients transferred from Runwell Hospital, which will be scaled down to cater for only secure mental health patients.

Plans for the development were reported at Rochford District Council's planning meeting.

Maureen Vince (Lab, Rochford), said: "Parking and traffic congestion are two areas of concern. We do not want the same problems that exist with Southend Hospital with regards to parking."

She encouraged anyone who lives near the site to voice views on the development as early as possible so they could be taken into account in the formative stages of the plans.

Published Friday, January 24, 2003

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