SIR, - I am writing to you because I feel very strongly about the proposed closure of the Coronation Hospital. I have had many years, going back to the 50s, association with this hospital.

As a child I had my tonsils out there and my father spent many years in and out of the Coronation with heart problems.

My children came to the then Outpatients with minor injuries then subsequently to the present Minor Injuries Unit, as did my husband just recently when he had an accident with his hedge trimmers. Had he had to wait to be transported to Airedale he could have bled to death!

I have attended very successful physiotherapy at the Coronation just recently. The X-ray unit is excellent at the Coronation, with an excellent appointment system and no waiting around. This was especially convenient when my 94-year-old mother fell recently and we were taken straight there.

If all of these facilities were transferred to Airedale General Hospital it would create a great deal of inconvenience for many people in Ilkley, especially young mums with children and the elderly who perhaps do not drive.

It would put great pressure on Airedale General Hospital itself with the extra number of people the closure of the Coronation would create for them.The car parking facilities at Airedale are already over-stretched for the number of patients who attend there without several thousand more attending.

I urge the authorities to think again about the closure of the closure of the Coronation Hospital and the problems this would create. NO, NO, NO, to the closure of the Coronation Hospital.

Mrs P A Sheffield,

Copperstones,

11 Hollingwood Rise,

Ilkley.

Couple dismayed

SIR, - We are disgusted that the Airedale NHS Trust are thinking of curtailing services at our only local hospital. When we hear such numbing rumblings it is dismaying.

Whilst some measure of lateral thinking is called for by the Trustees if they have is managed their budgets, it does not give them a licence to scaremonger. It is copycat behaviour learnt from our present Government, we believe.

The trust should be ashamed to make public such thinking. In this case the people being so well served by the Coronation Hospital resource will make their objections heard.

We are sure that commonsense will be made to prevail so that the hospital survives and flourishes. The list of advantages for retaining this facility far outweigh any disadvantages, not the least advantage being the synergy of adjacent medical sites.

The Airedale Hospital sited at Steeton is growing into a service to be proud of as can be seen from the unsolved parking problem. However the pending major disruption to Wharfedale General will create immense pressure on our existing facilities.

Don't even think about depriving us of our very very convenient Ilkley sited facilities. Our very best wishes for the success of your campaign.

Mr C T and Mrs M E Emsley

Arundel,

Parish Ghyll Drive, Ilkley

We must fight

SIR, - I read with disbelief about the suggested closure of the Coronation Hospital to assist Airedale's finances.

I have for the last 20 years been well served by Airedale in a number of major operations, but my recovery depended on the excellent after-care I received at the Coronation - particularly the X-ray department and, most of all, the excellent physiotherapy department.

I am still able to drive to Airedale Hospital for some appointments, but I know a number of elderly people who find the journey there almost impossible and have to rely on ambulances or ambulance cars to take them. If the Coronation Hospital closed, the transport bill would rise dramatically and the waiting time for appointments increase.

The Coronation Hospital is a great comfort and convenience to us all. We must campaign vigorously to keep our hospital and especially lobby our MPs and our Prime Minister.

He protests that we must improve the NHS, so why remove our hardworking and well functioning Coronation Hospital?

ANNE M WOOLMORE

135 Main Street,

Addingham.

Vital resource

SIR, - May I add my support to any campaign to keep the Coronation Hospital open - indeed that funds continue to be provided such that it does not just wither on the vine.

This is a vital resource, we need to make sure it stays!!

Judith Sherwin

Address supplied.

Spiteful blow

SIR, - Yes, we must keep the Coronation Hospital. A petition should be organised, say at the town hall, for us to sign.

This is yet another spiteful blow against Ilkley.

Mr and Mrs G H NAYLOR

5 Old Bridge Mews,

Old Bridge Rise,

Ilkley.