A ‘massive’ community campaign is promised if NHS bosses go-ahead with their decision to close a charity cafe and shop based in the maternity wing of the Countess of Chester Hospital.

And a petition has now been set up to save the Comfort Zone because hospital chief executive Tony Chambers wants the area taken back within the in-house catering department – it can be signed by clicking on the tweet below.

For the last 16 years the shop and cafe have provided an income to the 25-year-old Chester Childbirth Appeal, making a huge contribution towards the £2m raised to improve services for patients and their families.

But now the charity has been given notice to vacate the cafe and shop by January 16, 2017.

The Comfort Zone shop and cafe within the Countess of Chester Hospital which raises money for the Chester Childbirth Appeal to provide improvements to the hospital environment for patients and visitors.

Former midwife-tutor Pat Daniels MBE, who founded the charity in 1991, said: “Our shop employs 16 people as well as dozens of volunteers. We also provide work experience placements and help Duke of Edinburgh Award participants as well as several volunteers with extra support needs.

“Without the Comfort Zone we would not be able to pay for much needed help for the Women and Children’s. We have also given £50,000 to the hospital’s own Babygrow Appeal. All this would be lost if the Comfort Zone is taken away from us.

“We are currently taking legal advice as we have been running the Comfort Zone for 16 years and believe we may have some rights to stay. In the first instance we would hope that the hospital would accept a market rent which we are more than willing to pay. If we cannot reach agreement on a rent we will be mounting a massive campaign to stay. We know that we have the support of many people in the wider community, many of whom have been patients at the Countess.”

Among the numerous hospital initiatives funded over the years include a Special Baby Care Unit Extension and Bereavement Suite for grieving parents.

Comfort Zone volunteers Lynn Atherton and Pat Coy with the outfit's business accountant Sandra Magilton and customers.

Countess chief executive Tony Chambers said in future the space occupied by the Chester Childbirth coffee shop would be managed in keeping with the rest of the hospital and its catering services. Staff employed by the charity to work in the coffee shop would be transferred across to the NHS Trust on the same terms and conditions. The Chester Childbirth Appeal fundraising offices would remain on site.

He said: “Charity appeal director Pat Daniels is a remarkable woman, viewed with fondness and gratitude by all those who have worked with her closely over the last 25 years.

“While we are making some specific changes to the management and running of the charity coffee shop, we remain committed to working closely with Chester Childbirth Trust for the collective benefit of all our patients and supporters.”