HEALTH bosses have been told by the chairman of Hampshire County Council's Health Review Committee that plans to shelve building a community hospital in Fareham until 2010 would be seen as a "promise broken".

In a meeting, which is due to take place today, Councillor Ray Ellis will reveal the contents of a letter he has sent to the county's Strategic Health Authority (SHA). It urges the body to keep their promise to open a new community hospital in Fareham by 2008.

Last month, the Daily Echo told how authority board members were considering putting the scheme, planned for the Coldeast site, back two years in a bid to save costs.

Campaigners fear the move will leave Fareham residents having to travel nearly ten miles to St Mary's Hospital in Portsmouth for treatment.

In a strongly worded letter sent to health chiefs, Cllr Ellis said that the time for building Fareham's Community Hospital is "now" and that the local population had not been

consulted on the fresh proposals.

He said: "We would not favour any delay in implementation, as the need for these facilities has been well established over many years and the population needs action not words."

An overall funding gap of £3m currently exists to revamp health services across Portsmouth and south east Hampshire according to health bosses.

A group drawn from all local NHS organisations is studying the financial implications of building community hospitals in the area.

Health chiefs are expected to make a final decision at a meeting in April about whether to press ahead or delay the Fareham scheme .

In his letter, Cllr Ellis concludes that plans to delay the project give him cause for "serious concern".

He said: "I really believe that further informed discussion is required before the board decision is taken."

Fareham's civic leader, Councillor Sean Woodward, who also fired off a letter to the SHA chairman pleading for the community hospital to be built. He added: "It would be a complete and utter disgrace if they decide on this just to cut costs. It is totally unacceptable to expect our residents to travel to St Mary's."