HUNDREDS of campaigners joined forces to have their say on controversial plans to overhaul A&E departments.

The Save Southend A&E action group was forced to relocate its planned meeting from a room in The Forum, in Elmer Square, to the Royal British Legion, in Northview Drive, Westcliff, due to the volume of attendees.

The session was opened by group chairman Tim Sneller, who gave a brief update on activities carried out recently including leafleting, contacting councillors and prospective MPs and setting up an online petition. More than 3,000 signatures were collected in two weekends of action in Southend High Street.

The group fears lives will be put at risk if Basildon Hospital is made a major trauma centre, and Southend and Broomfield are downgraded under the Mid and South Essex Success Regime plans.

Campaigner Clare Fletcher said: “Despite recent suggestions that the A&E would be safe, we explained the Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation plans, which would result in Southend Hospital closing it doors to blue light ambulances, with such cases being forced to undertake the journey to Basildon.

“While it is acknowledged that Southend would still accept walk in and GP referral patients, the concerns centre around the length of journeys on congested roads, availability of ambulances and waiting times when Basildon would be put under more pressure than it currently is.”

Parliamentary candidates have voices their support for the campaign. Labour’s Julian Ware-Lane and Ashley Dalton, Lib Dem Peter Gwizdala , Independent Ron Woodley and Simon Cross, from the Green Party, were all in attendance.

A representative from the Conservative party made notes for its candidates.

Mr Woodley said: “It went really well. People are very concerned and passionate about this. “They tried this in London and it did not work. The same thing will happen here. It’s a short term idea and it is costing us millions to keep going. They’ve failed to recognise that Basildon is growing and it will not be able to cope with the increase. It also means that we will not be able to attract enough staff to keep Southend hospital going.”

There will be a march on Saturday, May 20 at noon on Pier Hill.