CINDERFORD mayor Max Coborn is leading a campaign for a new hospital to be built ’in the heart of the Forest’ as part of the town’s regeneration.

Councillor Coborn, who sits on the town and district councils, has called for new facilities to be built on the former site of the Northern United Colliery and hopes any new facility built in the area will have a birthing unit to preserve the historic right of free-mining.

“It would be a fitting memorial to the Dean’s miners,” he said.

“People like myself and fellow councillor Graham Morgan would like to see the hospital built on the Northern Colliery site.

“It’d be good to have a birthing unit so we could get more Foresters born in the Hundred of St Briavels too.

“If it’s in the centre of the Forest it could serve as a memorial to the Forest of Dean miners too.

“The Dilke and Lydney & District are good but they’re both old buildings now and need new equipment and updating.

“A new hospital in Cinderford would serve everyone currently going to Gloucester. It’s a great site for it because with the new spine road, access will be so easy.”