Dear Editor - I am someone born and bred in Pembrokeshire, and during my lifetime I have seen the closure of small local hospitals together with a decline in services.

Now, we are faced with the downgrading of Withybush hospital. I have attended all the SWAT meetings in Pembroke, and I thought I would be offered a choice of options - one of which would be to upgrade Withybush.

But this option was not offered, and to make a decision about an unknown site is impossible.

The LHB said Whitland or Narberth could be possible sites, but now the rumour is that a site next to Carmarthen showground has been earmarked. Where is the site? Someone must know, and how long have they known?

At the meetings held all over the county, it has been a 100% unanimous vote to retain and upgrade Withybush. Why have this public consultation if the LHB is not going to listen to public opinion?

The community health council, which is basically voluntary, has been asked to produce a third option by July, an impossible task. The LHB spent 18 months using professionally-paid personnel to produce their two options. I would like to see a referendum with three options for the people of Pembrokeshire to decide.

The Government could bring the National Lottery under its umbrella to service our own country's needs, using the profits, which are currently going abroad, to help put our hospitals in order.

W. Jenkins Priory Farm, Monkton, Pembroke.