In 1999 22,000 people protested against the proposed closure

At a meeting on Wednesday, the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) voted unanimously that the proposed closure should be rethought.

The assembly backed a motion put forward by Gosport Borough councillor Peter Langdon, a former Naval officer.

Gosport councillor Peter Edgar, of the Save Haslar Taskforce, called the decision a "major step forward".

"We are delighted," he said.

"At a time when the government is under scrutiny with its care of military personnel, we cannot afford to let this hospital close."

Naval funding of Haslar ends in 2008 and the hospital is due to close in 2009.

But, SEERA will now urge the Ministry of Defence to rethink its policy.