Children's hospice targets site

Jack Waller, aged two, has been the public face of the hospice appeal

A new site has been identified for the Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice after a search of 20 alternative locations.

The charity suffered a setback in January when Doncaster Council rejected an application to build on land close to St Catherine's Hospital, Balby.

But trustees are now looking to buy a five-acre site at Dinnington, close to the M1 motorway.

Anne Fowley, a hospice trustee, said the group was "95% confident" of securing planning permission.

She said: "Because of problems we've had in Doncaster we are very wary of pushing anyone into a corner, but as far as this site is concerned everyone wants it to take place.

"This site will allow us to build the hospice we planned, which is really important because we put a lot of effort into the design.

"It [the site] is big enough to allow us to do that and perhaps even build on it in the future."

Mrs Rowley said building professionals were inspecting the site on Monday, though the trustees were not anticipating any problems.

"Our original purpose was being compromised," she added.

More than 200 supporters of the Bluebell Wood hospice from across South Yorkshire are expected to attend the meeting at Moat House hotel in Doncaster.