CAMPAIGNERS have been given a stay of execution in their fight to have a doctor s surgery on their housing estate. Great Ashby Community Group wants land set aside for a medical surgery. Developers on the estate have also applied to use the land and a d

CAMPAIGNERS have been given a "stay of execution" in their fight to have a doctor's surgery on their housing estate.

Great Ashby Community Group wants land set aside for a medical surgery.

Developers on the estate have also applied to use the land and a decision was due last week.

However, that has been postponed until after a final meeting between the community group, MPs Oliver Heald and Barbara Follett, Stevenage and North Herts Primary Care Trust and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority.

Mark Barker, chairman of the community group said: "We basically have a stay of execution to have one last meeting with the health authority and PCT to put pressure on them to try to convince them to change their mind.

"What we don't want is that land to be released for general development.

"We just feel that some form of medical facility should be there. We're just fighting not to have it for shops or houses."

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 16, and the planning application will be considered again by North Hertfordshire District Council's southern rural committee on March 16.