www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 16, 2007 - 15 Town councillors ponder fate of existing hospital site By David Lea SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER With the location of Oakville's new hospital now fixed on Dundas Street at Third Line, the fate of the existing Reynolds Street hospital site is more pressing than ever. With construction at the new hospital site set to begin in 2010, Oakville officials are also focusing on what should take the current hospital's place. "There has been no decision made with respect to the future of that site," said Murray Paton, Chair of the Halton Health Services Board of Directors. "The hospital will be conducting focus groups and research to determine the ongoing health needs in the community, particularly in the southeast Oakville area." Paton said the research would conclude if some kind of health care facility was needed, but went on to say that such a facility would in no way be of the same scale as the hospital. "We cannot operate two hospitals within the community. We just don't have the resources, the physicians, the staff to be able to deliver that." The councillors who were present at the second unveiling of the new hospital's location voiced their wishes over what they would like to see happen with the existing hospital's land. "I think, based on promises that were made, we should maintain it in the medical field somewhere, maybe a long-term care facility might be appropriate or something similar to that," said Roger Lapworth, Town Councillor of Ward 4. "Oakville residents are getting older and we all need somewhere to stay in our senior years." Regional Councillor Alan Johnston of Ward 1, echoed Councillor Lapworth's statement that a long-term care facility was a good fit for the area but also said feedback from the focus groups would be important in making any decisions. Councillor Ralph Robinson of Ward 1 suggested using the hospital as not only a retirement home, but a youth facility as well. "I think that maybe the hospital is big enough that it can accommodate both," he said. "The older folks love the younger folks and there are retirement homes being built in Oakville now with daycare centers as part of them and they work well together." Councillor Cathy Duddeck of Ward 2 said whatever the land is used for needs to be community based as the hospital was an important part of southeast Oakville's identity. Mayor Rob Burton says things are shaping up to provide the public with the maximum ability to speak on this issue. "The stars and the moon and the sun are all lining up in an interesting way because the school board is beginning, right now, an accommodation review study for southeast Oakville. 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