Health campaigners have branded plans for 72 homes on the Westbury Community Hospital site disgraceful.

They fought a long battle to stop the hospital closing in 2012 and say the decision of NHS Property Services to seek planning permission for housing scuppers any hopes of it reopening.

Jenny Clements, of the hospital’s League of Friends, said: “I’m really saddened by the news and I feel let down.

“It seems to me like they are only interested in making money because we needed the hospital to have that step between the district hospital and going home.If you live in Westbury, you either have Frome or Warminster and, for an old person, that just isn’t an option and 70 homes seems a bit excessive.”

The draft proposal for the 2.3 hectares off Hospital Road shows 72 homes – of which 21 would be termed affordable – along with public open space. It says there would be improved access and less traffic than when the hospital was in operation.

Wiltshire Times:

  • An aerial view of the old site taken by Richard Fox

James Wakeham, south regional director for NHS Property Services, said: “This project would not only create local housing, but would release much-needed funds for the NHS through the eventual sale of the site.

"This is a great opportunity to turn a vacant site, that commissioners say they no longer need for healthcare, into something far more beneficial for the local community and the taxpayer.”

Eddie Bridges, president of the Royal British Legion in Westbury and another campaigner, is disappointed in the plans and that profits will go the NHS.

He said: “It’s disgraceful. They should never have closed it and moved everything to the new medical centre. Unless you have a car, you can’t get there. The League of Friends fought hard against the decision.

“My wife was in intensive care in Bath and it meant I had a 40-mile round trip. If people haven’t got a car, it means they are going to spend a fortune on transport.”

NHS Property Services took over the hospital, which opened in 1931, after reforms in April 2013 and was given the task of disposing of surplus NHS sites.

Proposals for the hospital go on display on Wednesday at The Laverton, between 4.30pm and 7.30pm. Visitors can see plans, talk to the project team and raise concerns.