A Grantham county and district councillor will be calling on South Kesteven District Council to do what it can to save the town's former cottage hospital.

Longstanding hospital campaigner Ray Wootten will be tabling a question to SKDC leader Kelham Cooke about the future of the hospital at a meeting of the full council next week.

Coun Wootten told Nub News: "The old hospital was subject to a council motion which was fully supported in 2014.

"At the time Jane Lewington former CEO (of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust) stated that the old hospital would be part of a new Day Surgery Unit however nothing transpired.

"When built the hospital was built on by funds raised by Lord Brownlow. The foundation stone was laid on the 29th October 1874 following a procession from the Guildhall to the hospital site.

"History sees changes come and go but the hospital should be retained for the people of Grantham and future generations."

Coun Wootten's question will say: "In 2014 this council fully supported a motion calling on ULHT to liaise over the future of Grantham Old Hospital.

"Now that the building is up for sale and, may be demolished will the leader of the Council write to Simon Evans Chief Operating Officer ULHT calling on him to engage with Grantham Councillors and local residents before any decision is made."

In recent months, campaigns have built up to try and save the former cottage hospital, which has lain empty for years.

Among them is one from Grantham resident Daniel Beck, who was born at the nearby Grantham Hospital, as previously reported by Nub News.

Daniel's campaign has involved contacting MPs, councillors and others, as well as launching an online petition, which has 1700 signatures to date.

It seeks to renovate the building using public funding and community grants

His campaign would also establish a community based venue entailing a Grantham archive, community rooms for the use of local groups ,study room for local schools and a small cafe for visitors.

However, site owners, the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, says it wants to sell the site and the building will be demolished for safety reasons.