REACTION to Kemp Hospice's plan to move to new ready-made premises - at a huge saving - has been universally positive, according to the campaign manager.

John Fletcher said not one of the letters or phone calls on the subject has criticised the move to take over the property currently occupied by the Cedars Hotel in Mason Road.

The ambitious scheme was revealed exclusively by the Shuttle/Times & News last month.

It will mean the new enlarged day care centre should open by Easter - almost two years earlier than planned.

Further facilities, including the five specialist in-patient palliative care beds, will follow.

"I must have had 12 letters and a similar number of phone calls, as well as people coming in," said Mr Fletcher.

"I have to say I haven't had a single adverse reaction from any member of the public. I think they're quick to appreciate that financially it's going to be a lot less expensive."

Mr Fletcher added that with two other major county hospice appeals totalling about £6 million also underway, there was a risk of donor fatigue.

"There's a limit to how much you can take out of a county."

However, he stressed fund-raising events for the appeal were continuing.