Locals in seaside Cornish town WIN war against the tourists! Residents raise more than £1m to buy their hospital from the NHS in bid to stop it being turned into holiday flats
- The hospital which closed three years ago is set to remain as a wellbeing centre
Cornish locals celebrated today after raising more than £1million to buy their hospital from the NHS to stop it being turned into holiday flats.
Residents in the seaside resort of St Ives were concerned their only hospital would be turned into flats and used for holiday accommodation – but after raising the funds to purchase it they hope to keep it as a health and wellbeing centre.
Councillor Kirsty Arthur, Mayor of St Ives, described it as a ‘fairytale ending’ for the community, adding: ‘So often we see valuable facilities disappearing in our towns but this time, the community has won out.
‘I cannot speak highly enough of the Friends’ determination to carry on in the face of such a challenge. But in the end, this all comes down to partnership.
With an incredible fundraising campaign and community backing, locals have managed to raise the NHS Property Services price of £1,020,000
Pictured: St Ives residents rejoice after successfully purchasing their only hospital
READ MORE: Cornish coastal town St Ives is the happiest place to live in Great Britain, study shows
‘This is truly a great example of where the local council and the community can work together to achieve great things.
‘We are so proud to have been able to play our part and all parties, the Friends, the Town Council, the NHS and our local MP, Derek Thomas (who was incredibly active behind the scenes) have got this to work,’ she added.
Prospects for the Edward Hain Memorial Hospital looked bleak following the NHS decision to close it three years ago and sell it on the open market.
As a public body the NHS is required to get the best possible price to re-invest in services.
Because property is so expensive in Cornwall the community feared their beloved facility would be redeveloped into holiday accommodation.
However, campaign group The Friends of the Former Edward Hain asked the Town Council to step in and negotiate directly with the NHS, which it was able to do as a public body.
Using these powers it enabled the Friends to buy the site direct rather than it go to the highest bidder.
Pictured: Joyful resident after ‘saving’ their only hospital. St Ives’ Mayor said: ‘So often we see valuable facilities disappearing in our towns but this time, the community has won out’
Prospects for the Edward Hain Memorial Hospital looked bleak following the NHS decision to close it three years ago and sell it on the open market
Cornish residents achieve ‘fairytale ending’ after securing their only hospital which closed three years ago
Pictured: Emotional resident of St Ives who was part of the campaign group which secured the future of its only hospital
Campaigner raised £1,020,000 to buy the site in the Cornish seaside town
With an incredible fundraising campaign and community backing, the friends have managed to raise the NHS Property Services price of £1,020,000 to buy the site and the terms of the purchase have now been agreed.
Councillor Steve Hynes said: ‘The council supports them all the way. It’s brilliant that the community have gotten together and done this.
‘It’s a fantastically well organised group. To raise a million pounds is unbelievable in a small town.
‘We’d of course have preferred the hospital to have stayed open but this is a great alternative.
‘The efforts show that if you come together as a community and never give up great things can be achieved.’