HEALTH bosses are putting the finishing touches to plans to build a £14million new hospital for Rossendale -- and to ask Valley residents just what they think of the idea.

Burnley Health Trust managers plan to launch major public consultation on the proposal to demolish the existing hospital and build again on the lower part of the Haslingden Road hospital site in Rawtenstall.

Drawings are now being made of the proposed new hospital and health chiefs will soon be ready to embark on the lengthy exercise of consultation and seeking funding options before any final decisions can be made.

Trust directors said last year they would prefer to build a new hospital on the existing site, rather than modify old buildings or seek to build an entirely new £16million hospital elsewhere in the town.

Other land on the present 100-year-old hospital site is expected to be sold off for housing to help finance the new-build scheme.

Trust chief executive David Chew said: "We are almost there in terms of plans and submitting our bid to the NHS Regional Executive.

"We will soon be able to launch a major communication exercise with the public and we want to involve as many people as possible."

The plans will be unveiled to special interest groups, such as the Community Health Council patient watchdog body and GP representatives before they go public.

When the Trust announced its clear intention with the new hospital plan last year, director County Coun Hazel Harding said: "I think this gives a very strong message that we are going to give Rossendale the health services it deserves."

Mrs Harding said some people would regret the loss of the old hospital, but it seemed sensible to invest in the future in a new hospital.

And she underlined her belief that public consultation was vital in the path forward.

"I think we should be clear that we are listening to what people say," she said.