TWO Buckfastleigh councillors have blasted what they say are ‘leading questions’ in the consultation by health bosses over the future of services in the town.

Andy Stokes and Simon Rines say they are ‘appalled’ at the way the district-wide consultation is being carried out.

They claim the questionnaire is a ‘deliberately manipulative exercise’ to get people to agree to close local community hospitals, including Buckfastleigh and Ashburton.

However, health bosses at the Clinical Commissioning Group which is running the consultation stress the questions were drawn up in conjunction with relevant voluntary organisations and members of the public as part of the consultation which is a statutory legal requirement.

READ THE FULL STORY IN TOMORROW’S PAPER - DATED SEPTEMBER 16.