Pressure is growing for a public meeting to discuss plans to close or reduce beds at Abingdon hospital.

Vale of White Horse district councillors had a private briefing from managers of the SouthEast and South West Primary Health Care Trusts before their council meeting on Wednesday about the already well publicised proposals. The deadline for public input is next Thursday, but so far, there are no plans for a public meeting in Abingdon.

The ruling Liberal Democrat group and the Conservatives have joined forces to oppose the threat to community hospitals in south Oxfordshire and want residents to be consulted.

The PCTs are planning to shut at least two community hospitals. Abingdon, Didcot, Henley, Wallingford and Wantage are under threat, but Witney is safe. As many as four hospitals could lose in-patient services.

Abingdon Town Council is pushing for a public meeting, a call supported by the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Dr Evan Harris and the new prospective Conservative candidate Amanda McLean.

Abingdon Northcourt ward member Pat Hobby said it was important that a similar meeting to that in Didcot tomorrow was held in Abingdon so the plans could be scrutinised.

She said: "The town council is committed to seeing that there are no bed closures and that Abingdon Hospital is maintained as a full primary care facility. Community hospitals are the bedrock of local community health care and are essential.

"We must launch a cross-party campaign with people of all political persuasions working together to fight for the future of the hospitals, not just in Abingdon but in the other towns in south Oxfordshire."

In 1999, the future of Abingdon Hospital looked uncertain when one of its two wards was closed and 24 beds lost. But an active campaign saw the NHS back-track. The hospital has two wards and 48 beds again, although six are now closed because of staff shortages.