CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep Felixstowe's Bartlet Hospital as a community building today announced details of a new protest being held this month.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep Felixstowe's Bartlet Hospital as a community building today announced details of a new protest being held this month.

The Bartlet Care Limited action group is planning a “bed push” along the prom to highlight the lack of action over the hospital, which closed five weeks ago.

Although it is a year since the Primary Care Trust agreed the convalescent unit should be sold to PJ Livesey Group, no plans have been submitted for its future and no agreement has yet been reached on what it could become.

Councillor Mike Ninnmey , a member of the “save it” group, said: “We want to highlight the dozens of convalescent care beds which have been lost in Felixstowe over the years.

“We used to have convalescent homes at the Herman de Stern, Suffolk Convalescent Home at Convalescent Hill and the Bartlet and now they are all gone.

“That's 143 beds lost.

“We still believe beds for convalescent care are needed - and in future will be needed perhaps more than ever.

“I think everyone thinks it is a foregone conclusion that the hospital will be converted into flats but I don't think it will be as easy as everyone expects.”

Barry Farr, vice chairman of Bartlet Care, said the walk would pass the site of all three lost homes.

“We want to highlight the fact that this battle goes on - we are still fighting and have not given up yet,” he said.

The hospital bed push will take place on Sunday March 16 with people asked to meet at the Herman de Stern, Sea Road, at 2.45pm for a 3pm start. The walk will go along the prom to The Hut, where refreshments will be served.

The action group would love to see a medical use found for the building but if not a community project rather than homes.

Mr Ninnmey said it was planners' first duty to consider these ideas before they agree to a new use for the grade II listed building.

If it was allowed to be converted into luxury apartments, the scheme would also have to include a fair amount of affordable housing.

The PCT is now providing convalescent care for patients at home through travelling care teams.

What do you think the Bartlet should become? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk