AS three months of public consultation is due to begin on maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, the Gazette is urging residents to write letters to the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

The trust is proposing to close both Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units as it says they are too expensive to run and they are underused although both units had more births in 2003 than in the previous year.

The Gazette has been campaigning for the past 12 months to save the units and is calling on the public to write letters supporting the campaign to keep the units open.

Gazette editor Gary Lawrence said: "We want the trust to be deluged with letters from the public so they can see the level of support from the community to keep the maternity units. The units are loved by parents and mothers have consistently told us that their birth experience is more positive at these units. If Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units are closed, how will pregnant women get to Chippenham and Trowbridge?

"Women have also told us that they would prefer to have a home birth rather than go to Chippenham or Trowbridge, which would put a huge strain on maternity services."

Letters do not have to be long but the most important thing is to explain to the trust how important it is that the units stay open with the same facilities they offer now.

Write to the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, Southgate House, Pans Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 5EQ.

The trust was still finalising its consultation document on maternity services as the Gazette went to press but said it hoped to release it tomorrow.