MORE than 300 people in a Basingstoke suburb have signed a petition calling for health bosses to reopen a doctors’ surgery which closed earlier this year.

Fort Hill Surgery, in Winklebury Centre, Winklebury, shut its doors in March after a building inspection revealed the building may not be up to standard.

The surgery is a branch of the Marlowe Practice, based in Shakespeare Road, Popley, and its closure means patients have to travel to Rooksdown or Popley for their nearest GP surgery.

Councillor Steven Peach, ward member for Winklebury, has started a petition he intends to hand in to the newly-formed SHIP Primary Care Trust, which covers Southampton, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.

Cllr Peach told The Gazette: “It is not good enough for residents in Winklebury, especially those who cannot drive and have to get two buses to get to their nearest medical facility.

“It is just not working for local people. I want to hand the petition in to Julia Bagshow, from the PCT – they are the ones in control here.

“I want them to realise this is a serious, serious issue for the local community and the feeling is strong that they need this medical facility back in place.”

Alison Banks, from the SHIP PCT Cluster, said an announcement on the future of the centre could be made within a matter of weeks.

She added: “Our priority is to ensure patients and staff have access to a building which meets modern standards. A review has been undertaken, and that is now being further assessed.

“We hope to be in a position to provide more details in the next few weeks, but there are still some investigations to be completed, such as discussions with contractors, before we’re in a position to make a decision on the building’s future.

“We thank patients and staff for their continued co-operation as progress is made.”