A long-running campaign from the Bucks Herald is expanding its reach.

Dear John, a joint campaign by The Bucks Herald, MPs and local authorities, is aimed at protesting to deputy PM John Prescott about housing growth in the area, where 59,000 new homes in 25 years could be built under Government plans.

It has turned to include Dear Patricia, targeting Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

The Herald wants to ensure there is enough healthcare provision to cope with the population increase that will result from thousands of new homes.

With the help of local authorities and MPs, it has calculated that to maintain a reasonable standard of living, the Government needs to spend £713m on schools, roads, transport, education and the environment.

The paper told its readers: "Our Dear John campaign to push for the infrastructure needed to cope with the thousands of new homes being built in the Vale over the next 30 years is receiving terrific support from readers.

"And it is working...the Government is listening.

"Now we turn our attention as well to the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

"We challenge Patricia Hewitt to reassure residents of the Vale that local health services, already under considerable strain, can cope with an ever-swelling population."

Readers are being asked to send in their views on all the topics covered via post or e-mail, to be handed on to the appropriate minister.

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