THERESA HEAD, of Mansion House Street, Dartmouth, writes:

I wholeheartedly endorse the letter published in the Chronicle from Dr Arnison Newgass, October 21. Particularly, to be aware when completing the community consultation questionnaire. It appears to be nothing but a box-ticking exercise, rigged to get the answers the commission desires. However, don’t be put off – let your views be known.

Furthermore, like Jill Murphy, Chronicle, October 14, I too attended a meeting at Dartmouth Academy. Her experience was the same as mine. The question put forth from our table bore little ­resemblance to what had been discussed. No one was in favour of our hospital closing or Totnes being our ‘sub-hub’, and all were very sceptical about ‘care in the community’.

Our designated facilitator did not express this. No questions were allowed from the floor, but I was fortunate to have one question acknowledged. I wished to know how much the lease for River View was going to cost, and the answer was that this was ‘confidential’.

I find it very odd that when all sorts of figures were ­mentioned, this one was confidential. Why sell off our much-appreciated hospital to be at the mercy of the owners of River View and a ‘sub-hub’ at Totnes?

I find it very sad that our own councillors, unlike their ‘defiant message’, Chronicle April 22, now seem to accept that our hospital will close. All I can say is, that we seem to be letting one of the town’s best assets go for very little gain.