The potential closure of rehabilitation beds in Cromer was branded “insane” by a local GP after a protest march was held through the town.

The potential closure of rehabilitation beds in Cromer was branded “insane” by a local GP after a protest march was held through the town at the weekend.

Around 150 people held up traffic as they marched from the Meadow car park, through the centre of town, up the Norwich Road and to Benjamin Court.

A whole range of ages were present, from chanting children to pensioners, the latter more directly affected by the potential for closure of the specialist rehabilitation beds at Benjamin Court.

The majority of delayed drivers appeared more than happy to support the protestors when they discovered what the subject was, hooting their horns and slowing to take flyers from those handing them out.

An initial plan to finish the march at Benjamin Court was rethought and protestors instead decided to march back to their starting point once they had warmed up on a cold, blustery and rainy Saturday morning.

Local GP Alasdair Lennox said the closure of Benjamin Court would be a “complete disaster” for his patients and the town in general.

“It has provided a wonderful rehabilitation service with some outstanding services attached to it,” said Dr Lennox. “To lose that and move it all to Dereham would be insane.”

He urged all those aggrieved by the plans to write in protest and attend meetings to discuss the proposals.

Another of those on the march was Trevor Ivory, Conservative parliamentary candidate for North Norfolk.

Mr Ivory said: “Staff face redundancy and patients are concerned about being forced to choose between being stranded in Norwich or trapped in their own homes waiting for their daily visit. This is simply unacceptable.”