SUPPORTERS of Teignmouth Hospital say they are ‘euphoric’ after Teignbridge councillors voted in favour of another bid to keep the historic NHS building open. 

Their sustained campaign received a much-needed boost as Teignbridge councillors agreed to push ahead with a referral to the Secretary of State to reconsider the closure.

A Notice of Motion put forward by Teignbridge Council chairman Cllr Chris Clarane, a vocal supporter of the hospital, received almost unanimous backing from members of the Full Council. 

The vote gives hope to the Save Our Hospital campaign following Devon County Council’s refusal to go back to the Government for another look at the decision to shut the hospital, the first purpose-built NHS hospital in the country. 

Council leader Martin Wrigley said: ‘We voted to refer the decision back to the Secretary of State.

‘There is a lot of work to do to get the evidence together and we have to add to the work which was already done by Devon County Council but we will make sure we will put the referral in as soon as we can.’

Cllr Clarance’s motion followed changes in the rules, allowing other bodies to make such referrals.