AT last someone has listened to Devizes and we are going to have an urgent care centre in Marshall Road, alongside the Treatment Centre.

I would like to personally thank everyone over the very many years for all their support, with petitions, marches etc and their hard work.

It is not exactly what we have been fighting for but it ticks most of the boxes, and when built will be a fantastic asset for the town.

This has not been achieved by successive Primary Care Trusts, politicians or successive governments promising Devizes the earth then selling them down the river.

It has been achieved by cross party unity in DASH1 and DASH 2, the Hospital League of Friends and many spur groups.

All these groups have been made up of councillors, doctors, nurses, receptionists and, most importantly, members of the general public.

It has been relentlessly fought for over the decades, led by the determined dedication and relentless efforts of Margaret Taylor and Paula Winchcombe and has been vehemently supported by former mayors and councillors of all parties.

It is my understanding that the old Devizes and District Community Hospital site will have to be sold to pay for this, possibly for housing.

So be it, but that site was given to the town by Lord Roundway and taken over by one of the many NHS Acts of the 1940s and 1950s.

I feel that houses, if they were to be built, should and ought to be for the people of the town with prices that they could afford, not luxury four and five-bedroom houses, with canal-side views!

COUN JANE M BURTON, Deputy Mayor of Devizes, Secretary of Devizes Community Hospital League of Friends