Health chiefs at Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust have been criticised for being too vague in their vision for the new Malmesbury community hospital.

Councillor Charles Vernon said it would be better for the PCT to specify precisely what will be included in the new heath development.

Coun Vernon said: "We want to retain the hospital. Currently there is an outline planning proposal that does not specify the services that will be provided. The PCT wants to provide an equal treatment across our whole area. But why should Malmesbury have to lose out just because another community needs a service? Let the PCT fund it instead."

District and county councillor John Thomson said: "I sit on the NWDC planning committee and the Malmesbury Hospital Project Board. We are trying to pin down the PCT to benefit Malmesbury."

Councillor John Bowen, Malmesbury Hospital Project chairman, said : "I do not want to lose the facilities in Malmesbury and we might do if we are too negative."