The chief executive of the Coventry Health Authority has said that Walsgrave was chosen as the site for the city’s new super-hospital because a city centre site was not "do-able or practical."

Chris Howgrave-Graham stressed that although building on the Coventry and Warwickshire site was the preference of the Coventry Health Authority, they felt it was the riskier option.

He said:

"The view we took today with a view to the resources we have is that the Walsgrave option is an affordable scheme, and at the end of the day we felt the risks were too high on the Coventry and Warwickshire option."

Now that the decision has been made Howgrave-Graham has urged all sectors to put the bitter battle behind them and back the new hospital.

"This has been a very difficult decision and there have been several things said which have not helped matters. I will not now say what they are.

"I understand that people have very strong views on a subject like this and this has been reflected by the debate on this matter.

"I hope that people will now put these differences to one side to back the project, because at the end of the day this is a hospital for the whole population."

The chief executive also admitted that the debate on the issue had taken its toll over the last week.