WWI plaque to be saved from Carshalton memorial hospital demolition (From Your Local Guardian)

WWI plaque to be saved from Carshalton memorial hospital demolition

7:20am Thursday 26th November 2009 in

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A World War I plaque will be saved at a memorial hospital facing demolition.

In a controversial move, NHS bosses closed Carshalton War Memorial Hospital in October 2005 and, last year, revealed the £2m site may be sold to housing developers.

But a spokesman for Sutton and Merton PCT confirmed a war memorial at the 90-year-old hospital – built using public money – would not be demolished when the site was sold.

He said the PCT was considering its options for the site, including conversion into flats, to ensure that it gets “best value for money”.

But he said: “Whatever happens, the memorial will not be demolished.”

But residents are still furious at the decision to close the hospital, which was built with public subscriptions in 1919, in remembrance of local men who died in the 1914-18 war.

The hospital accommodated the Sutton and Merton Assertive Outreach and Rehabilitation Team, and there were plans to make it an intermediate facility for the disabled, elderly, or non-acutely ill.

But now the trust wants to treat more people in their own homes, so it no longer needs a new centre.

A Save Carshalton War Memorial Hospital group was set up on Facebook. Group member Paul Clements was born in the hospital in 1962.

He said: “To close it is a dishonour to those who built the hospital in the memory of those who gave their life for this country.

“I’m glad the memorial is not going to be demolished, but it doesn’t make up for selling off the hospital.”

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