In support of the application to build a 63-bed care home and 14 assisted living units on the previous hospital site at Berryfield: it has been a long wait for a development company to come forward which is able and willing to build on this site. That there have been six years of waiting indicates how difficult this sector has become.

Like many of the West Wilts towns we were dismayed in Bradford at the closure of our much-loved hospital.

Many will remember the strength of feeling at the time. The only course was to fight to retain something for health care on that site.

It was the sustained efforts of the Friends of Bradford on Avon Health Care, supported by the Town Council and the Development Trust and backed by the town, that made this possible.

A legal agreement was secured that there should be health care provision on that site and that this should be vested in the town. It was little short of a miracle that when Bradford on Avon Hospital was closed the site did not all go for residential development as the PCT might have wished.

Since then we have waited not so patiently for plans to be put forward. In these difficult times it has not been easy to find a developer and a provider who believe they can achieve this in an economically viable way.

Now at last we have plans put forward by Castlemead. If achieved, it is something which will be of enormous benefit to Bradfordians and their families where at present there is no residential provision for the very frail and elderly. The jobs providing the care will be an additional bonus to the town.

This is such an important opportunity to provide something the town needs and it would great if this message gets across to the planning committee at Wiltshire Council loud and clear.

Cllr Vicky Landell Mills.