The latest moves to save the maternity unit at Fairfield Hospital have been backed by Bury Council.
Council leader Mike Connolly has signed the e-petition on the Government’s website calling on health secretary Andrew Lansley to keep these services at Fairfield.
The council has previously showed its support in the debating chamber. In 2006, councillors unanimously agreed a motion which condemned the plan, saying it did not properly serve residents in the north of the borough, and was a “perverse” decision on health and demographic grounds.
The matter was again debated in September 2010, where unanimous support was again given to oppose closure.
An e-petition has now been set up by local campaigner Mrs Sharron Entwistle, and Cllr Connolly has urged people to sign it.
Cllr Connolly said: “Local people have made it very clear that they value having a maternity unit in Bury, and don’t want to have to travel miles out of town.
“The council has made its feelings clear about this in recent years, so I’m backing the petition and I urge all Bury residents to do the same. Only by a massive show of support can we persuade those in charge to change their minds and give us the facilities Bury people deserve.”
The e-petition can be found at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5140
