FRUSTRATION is growing at the continued failure of attempts to sell off the former Cottage Hospital in Ledbury.

The hospital remains an empty, boarded-up building owned by the NHS almost two years on from its closure and despite keen interest from a developer.

A deal is still being worked out between NHS Inventures, the body responsible for the sale of surplus NHS properties, and the Scottish-based developers, the Miller Group.

This week, NHS Inven-tures spokesman John Preston said the deal was still to go through and that the Government was still looking at its details.

The news was met with concern by Ledbury mayor Keith Francis, who said: "I'm not happy that the building has been kept empty for so long. I want to see it being brought back into use as soon as possible.

"The longer this goes on, the more it becomes dilapidated and open to abuse."

Last year, intruders lit a number of small fires inside the Victorian complex, off the Homend, and the fire brigade had to be called.

Coun Francis' concerns were echoed by Barry Ashton, Herefordshire councillor for Ledbury, who said: "I can only say that the NHS property department takes a long time to get a deal. I thought it had been signed and sealed. I want them to pull their fingers out. It's not exactly an asset to the town, as it stands at the moment."

It was back in September 2002 that Miller Ventures, the property partnership arm of the Miller Group, secured preferred partner status for a package of NHS property, including Ledbury's old hospital.

The Miller Group intended to buy 100 surplus NHS hospitals, a portfolio covering 4,800 acres. It said its intention was to redevelop them, mainly for housing.