A founding member of a group petitioning to secure the future of the Royston Hospital site has thanked the community for their support.

In just three weeks, Maggie Allen and others from the Royston Community Health group have amassed 4,027 signatures in their petition to secure healthcare provision at the hospital site in London Road for years to come.

“We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us, collecting signatures and those who have come out to man stalls,” said Maggie.

“People are sharing the petition online and staff have collected them at Tesco, Barnados and Stationery Cupboard, it’s amazing stuff.”

The group’s preferred option is to make the hospital site a ‘future-proof’ healthcare hub and expand on current services there.

The other option is to close the site and have some services expanded at the Royston Health Centre in Melbourn Street, but it’s feared this wouldn’t be sustainable long-term.

“About 95 per cent of people we have spoken to have signed our petition,” said Maggie, who is hoping for at least 5,000 names by the end of Saturday.

“I am very glad to have had their support. People are talking about it and petition is getting absolutely everywhere, but we still need more signatures.”

Maggie hopes to be at Angel Pavement tomorrow from 9am to 1pm collecting signatures, and is looking for someone to help put up her table for this event as she is unable to set up alone.

She will also be outside Roysia Middle School in Burns Road on Thursday also from 9am to 1pm, and at the same time on Saturday at Royston Market in Market Hill.

“I feel it is possible to get the best deal for the town because and there is a huge strength of feeling about it,” she added.

The group will be working with North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald – who told the Crow he would be pushing the petition – to present the names to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

See roystoncommunityhealth.org.uk for more information or to print off petitions, or to view the petition online go to www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HM3T6ZL.

If you can volunteer to help set up Maggie’s stall email info@roystoncommunityhealth.org.uk as soon as possible.