Liberal Democrats on the march!

4.58.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Sep 2006

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Stephen Lloyd and Lib Dem campaigners joined the thousands of local residents on the 'Save the DGH' march last weekend.

Lib Dem parliamentary challenger Stephen Lloyd, who was one of the speakers at the DGH rally added after the event: "On Saturday the public who turned out in their thousands from Eastbourne and Willingdon in support of the cross-party Save the DGH March was a wonderful tribute to people power. The sheer numbers demonstrate just how important DGH is to us all, and that we are determined to stop the proposed cuts being pushed through by the government and NHS senior management."

"The possible cuts clearly have little to do with clinical need and everything to do with reducing costs. Eastbourne is one of the fastest growing towns in the South East of England - so how can they even contemplate downgrading our A&E and maternity wards.

"The sheer scale of the march shows we will not give up the fight. In short, last Saturday Eastbourne and the surrounding district said loud and clear to the powers that be - leave our DGH alone"