Stafford's County Hospital fruit and veg stall axed after just six months
A fruit and vegetable stall outside County Hospital in Stafford has been axed after just six months - with hospital bosses putting its fate down to 'logistical problems'.
The stall, which opened back in April, was run by Healthy Options Midlands, but was closed down by hospital chiefs yesterday.
Bosses at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which run the hospital on Weston Road, launched the pilot scheme earlier this year, claiming they are 'committed to promoting healthy living'.
However, despite the stall proving so popular that more than 300 people signed a petition to save it, bosses gave the trader just a week to pack up.
Trader Scott Burbridge-Smith said the closure was a 'massive blow', with a stall at Royal Stoke University Hospital also being closed down.
The 21-year-old said: "For the past few months I have felt part of the community.
"It is a massive blow to be asked to leave, when we have had nothing but positive feedback."
He added that regular customers were left upset when he broke the news to them earlier this week.
The stall was open Monday to Friday from 7-5pm, near to the main entrance of the hospital.
Mr Smith added: "It is such a shock to everybody, we just can't believe it and regular customers are outraged."
"We've had a really great partnership with the hospital and I thought it was working well. We have had positive feedback from everyone.
"I just wish that whoever has made the decision for us to leave would have come to see me and explain why."
Andrew Ashcroft, senior communications manager for the Trust, said it was a pilot scheme but the trust does hope to have a new service in the near future.
He said: "Back in April, the trust launched a six month pilot Fruit and Veg stall in connection with its ongoing commitment to promoting healthy living.
"This project proved very popular with patients, visitors and staff alike.
"However, during the pilot the trust did encounter a number of logistical problems in allowing a traditional market stall directly outside a hospital entrance.
"We are working to have a new service in place as soon as possible now that the pilot has been completed."
