SIR - In reply to Ali Dent's article (Gazette, December 24) this is referring to the new hospital for Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

The Conservatives and the NHS are saying that an overwhelming majority of people want Frenchay as the preferred option. I am sorry but 650 people is not an overwhelming majority, 650 people could be in the local catchment area of Frenchay. While Frenchay is a good hospital, so is Southmead.

However, they both have awful parking and access problems. Yes, Frenchay has the M4 and M32 nearby, but the bus services from Yate, Thornbury and Sowbelly areas need to be better. Southmead has better access for North Bristol but not East Bristol. What is needed is a hospital built between the two sites. Both hospitals are very old and need replacing with new facilities not bits added here and there.

B Collins Avon Way Thornbury