Grantham Hospital campaigner Jody Clark is backing a fresh call from a council for a new hospital to be built as part of the barracks development on the edge of town.

The co-founder of the Fighting for Grantham Hospital also believes such a proposal "may not be so far fetched after all."

Her comments follow Londonthorpe and Harrowby Without Parish Council writing to South Kesteven District Council calling for a new hospital, whilst responding to a consultation, as reported by Nub News last week.

In the letter, parish clerk Peter Armstrong asked: "Could consideration be given to providing a site for a new Grantham Hospital? After all this is a government site!"

The move came as the district council has set out the terms of the extent of environmental and other impact reports and studies Homes England and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation must carry out as part of the planning process for their ambitious development.

As Nub News has previously reported, a mixed use development is planned including up to 4000 new dwellings, residential conversion of listed officers' mess building, commercial uses, local centre, schools, open space and other associated infrastructure.

Responding to last week's Nub News story on the issue, Jody Clark branded the parish council plea as "a fantastic idea."

Jody said: "We currently have an outdated hospital site, that is too small to meet the growing demand of this town and surrounding areas and is situated on a very congested road. Whenever there is an accident, it gridlocks the town and ambulances cannot get through.

"If we had a state of the art, new build hospital, either side of Somerby Hill, on either development, it could be designed to meet the growing population, with all the requirements needed.

"The relief road and housing developments will add roads and bus routes to provide better access to those without transport. Better access for ambulances and better access to all the other hospitals."

"It's about time we got some much needed investment in our local hospital services."

Jody added: "5 years on from a "temporary" overnight closure and still no solution in sight! Our staff and our community deserve this! "

In the debate that followed on the Fighting For Grantham Hospital's Facebook Page, commenters overwhelmingly backed the idea despite some concerns over what might happens to trees on the site.

Jody continued: "I understand that people are upset about the trees but it has been over hyped.

"The developers are wanting to save most of the established trees and move the smaller ones.

"They also want to create woodland and wildlife friendly spaces.

"I think having a future proof hospital is much more important for local residents in their and their children's lifetimes, than not having it."

The debate also turned on to how soon such a hospital might arrive and what might cost.

Jody she said she believed it could take ten years to deliver and cost £70M, which meant support and investment from central government was needed.

She explained further: " The health providers have known for over a decade, that we need better hospital provision in the south of the county.

"The clinical commissioning group applied to government, for a new hospital on Spitalgate level - but were refused at that time (pre relief road starting)

"So the CCG want a new hospital.

"Lincolnshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council, have both publicly supported the new build.

"The health providers want a new hospital and so do many of us.

"I spoke to Simon Stevens at Lincoln University and he said the idea of a new build hospital had merit.

"The developers on the other side of Somerby Hill, have offered land for a new build hospital and would contribute to the cost.

"We just need government support and funding (level up - new build hospital etc)

Jody added: "Many of our local representatives have been pushing this in the background so it's not as far fetched as it sounds.

"It would be run by all the health providers, as is our current services - so would be exactly the same set up as we have now but in a different and upgraded location."