Town councillors on the planning applicatons committee gave their backing to a proposed £2.5million medical centre at Berrow last Monday (December 8th), as reported here by Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Fresh plans for the centre in Brent Road, pictured here, were resubmitted last month after the first set of proposals was withdrawn amid concern that the building was out-of-keeping.
Plans for the new campus, which will run in addition to the existing Medical Centre in Love Lane, Burnham, include new medical centre facilities; a relocation for the Elderly People’s Mental Health Unit from Littlecourt in Berrow; a new dental facility, and, subject to satisfactory tendering, two NHS Dentists; and a pharmacy.
Debbie Hale, Management Partner, Burnham Medical Centre told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We have been in discussions with Sedgemoor Planning Department since the withdrawal of the original planning application earlier in the year with a view to ensuring that the scheme, where possible, incorporated the feedback received from the local planning authority, statutory consultees and the local community. We are delighted that these changes have resulted in the support of the Town Council for this exciting new development which will deliver significant benefits to the local community.”
“The changes to the scheme, which met the approval of councillors, included the provision of a footpath from where it currently ends in Brent Road, up to the entrance to the Campus site; the building will now be clad in light oak effect timber to reflect its surroundings; a lift will be provided; and the landscaping has been chosen to reflect the location, with reeds, tall grasses and linear trees. In addition, the architects, GVA Grimley, submitted a detailed review of all possible other sites in the area and the reasons why they were not suitable, together with a Transport Statement and Travel Plan.”
The opening times for the new campus, which will be confirmed nearer to the opening date, are likely to be Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.00pm. Opening times for the pharmacy, dentist and elderly mental health unit are yet to be finalised.
The development is being built with full support from Somerset PCT. Their Director of Primary Care, David Slack, added: “The Primary Care Trust agreed approval for this scheme in September 2007. The PCT believes that the current premises in Love Lane are currently too small for the number of patients registered with Burnham Medical Centre and this restricts the practice from developing new services. The PCT are of the opinion that the development of a branch surgery, dental practice and alternative accommodation for Littlecourt would be a valuable addition to local services and facilities. This sort of health campus is central to the thinking of the Primary Care Trust in developing services in small clusters that will be more convenient for patients and improve joint working among healthcare professionals.”
The planning application is currently being considered by Sedgemoor District Council, which will ultimately decide whether it goes ahead.
