by Graham Tutthill

A decision is expected to be taken this month on where Dover’s new hospital is likely to be built.

Members of the Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust board are due to put forward a business plan for the preferred option within the next few weeks.

“Our priority is to get better healthcare to the people of Dover as soon as possible,” said Amanda Harrison, the PCT’s director of assurance and strategic development.

She said there wasn’t time to wait for measures to be put in place to make the suggested mid-town site, off Maison Dieu Road, safe from flooding.

Other sites being looked at are, principally Buckland Hospital and Whitfield, with the Buckland Hospital site being described as "affordable and deliverable".

Liz Shutler, director of strategic development with the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, said the £20 million set aside for the project was not ring-fenced, but was likely to be safe for two years. Then it could clash with funding demands for other hospitals.

“It’s important we get on with it,” she said.

Cllr Steve Mannion said there was anger in the community that so much time had been wasted. He said Whitfield was “a very good site” with no flood risk, good transport links and space for expansion and parking.

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury.