A PROPOSAL to turn Ledbury's former Cottage Hospital into an arts centre has won the backing of local MP Bill Wiggin.

The idea was one of several received by Mr Wiggin in response to a campaign he has launched to save the building for community use.

Others included turning it into a pre-school play group, an Internet caf and even a hostel.

Mr Wiggin is now hoping a local enntrepreneur will come forward to provide the necessary funding, as time is running out for the NHS-owned site off The Homend.

The NHS Inventures Department, has already submitted a planning application for conservation area consent to demolish the physiotherapy building.

It wants to establish a boundary between the rest of the hospital and Rose Cottage, which is currently part of the complex. But the application, if approved, could possibly free up Rose Cottage for sale as a separate concern to the rest of the hospital site.

In response to the success so far of the campaign to save the building, Mr Wiggin said: "I've received about ten letters and the suggestions that have been made are excellent. All are exciting and helpful.

"However, I'm still hoping for a specific suggestion from someone willing to take on the site; someone with a good business plan of their own and money to back it."

Former town councillor and businesswoman Margaret Stark, of the In Stark Contrast fashion boutique in High Street, has suggested the hospital be used for an art centre.

"It's extremely appropriate," she said.

Mr Wiggin has written with this in mind to Herefordshire Council, which would pass judgment on any planning applicaiton for the site and could possibly provide funding for any related project to benefit the community.

No one at the NHS Inventures Department was available for comment at the time of going to press.