THE PETITION to save the Coronation Hospital and its services has topped 3,000

signatures - but organisers hope to co-ordinate efforts for greater support.

Up to 3,500 Ilkley residents are now thought to have signed the petition, with many volunteers and businesses around the town keeping copies of the official petition form.

But Ilkley Parish Council - which is organising the petition - hopes to have a co-ordinator on every street, to sign up as much of the population as possible.

Many believe the Ilkley Gazette-backed campaign has motivated more people in the town than any other cause. Residents dropping into our office to back the campaign have now filled eight petition sheets.

Parish council chairman, Mike Gibbons, says none of the Ilkley residents he has spoken to has been in favour of the hospital's closure, or the loss of any services.

Coun Gibbons said: "So far, 99.9 per cent of people are fully behind it. It's quite remarkable absolutely no-one has yet said that they think it should close."

He said he hopes to work with Burley Community Council over promoting the

petition in Burley, and businesses in both Burley and Menston are keeping copies of the petition for their customers to sign.

Menston residents have already handed over forms bearing dozens of signatures to parish councillor Joyce Galling.

Coun Gibbons urged anyone who has not yet signed the petition to do so, but advised residents to sign only the official forms, and to avoid signing more than once.

The parish council plans to hand over the entire petition when Airedale NHS Trust and the Airedale Primary Care Trust come up with more definite proposals for the hospital's future.

A copy of the petition is available to sign at the Ilkley Gazette office, 8 Wells Road, Ilkley. Campaign posters are also still available.