SOME 20 years ago, the dream of a Kington by-pass was realised against overwhelming odds, and the 10 other competitive schemes in the then County of Hereford and Worcester floundered in its wake.

Now, the campaign for radiotherapy at Hereford Hospital is yet another dream of immense import. It is a vision, indeed another crusade, worthy of fighting for with the greatest determination and commitment and my resolve has not diminished one iota in the intervening years.

The difference between these two dreams is that on this occasion the people do not stand to fight alone. Today's campaign has the official backing of Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan fully supports a link site for radiotherapy treatment at Hereford - and only at Hereford.

And for this campaign a precedent has been set.

For the past decade the Charles Renton Unit has been a link or satellite site for chemotherapy treatment. The proposed new Macmillian Renton Cancer Unit clearly emphasizes its success. The same negative arguments were voiced 10 years ago - and they were thankfully overcome.

So let us all keep up the fight for a radiotherapy unit which is well overdue and for which Hereford is ideally situated, being at the very centre of the three Counties Network catchment area.

Where there is a will there is hope. Let no single political voice weaken that will or destroy that hope. Let us fight for what is right and keep on fighting.

Allan Lloyd, Kington (left).