Although it says no final decisions have been made, its preferred choices include the closure of Harborough's Cottage Hospital in Coventry Road.

The hospital was built by prolific Harborough pair H G Coales and H W Johnson in 1909 after people in the community launched a fundraising drive.

A plot of land in Coventry Road had been donated by a prominent town figure, George Green, and it had the backing of Viscountess Downe of Dingley Hall who was president of the Nursing Association.

The options being put forward are:

1. Move all services to St Luke's and refurbish the site

2. Move all services to St Luke's and rebuild the site

3. Do nothing

The plan would also involve moving the Coventry Road Medical Centre to St Luke's and selling the Cottage Hospital.

The trust's report says that 'doing nothing is not an option' so residents are effectively left with two choices.

The report states: "Our vision is for Harborough to have a one-stop health hub which will increase the range of services available and reduce the need to travel to big acute hospitals (Leicester Royal Infirmary or Kettering General]."

However, the options put forward do not state what services might be offered at either a refurbished or a rebuilt St Luke's nor does it state any costs implications.

Health campaigner Phil Knowles, who helped organise an independent door-to-door survey, said: "The trust's consultation lacks clarity on exactly what they are proposing services-wise. The only clear questionnaire the public have had regarding services is the one we produced.

"A simple tick-box survey, such as the one we did, gives people something concrete to comment on. It should have been as simple as possible.

"The trust must have a clear idea of the type of things they want to put on the site and the budget available yet none of this appears in the document."

The Mail revealed in July that a £1.3million price tag has been placed on the Cottage Hospital by the trust.

At present St Luke's, built in the early 1900s, offers rehabilitation services and a dedicated stroke unit while the cottage hospital undertakes outpatient services.