Luton NHS Centre Update II

Readers may remember the controversy over the Luton NHS facility which reached the papers in Autumn last year

The team have been standing behind local residents opposed to the location of the new proposed NHS facility behind

We have been working with the Friends of Horsted Valley, local neighbourhood watch teams and the PACT to oppose the site as utterly inappropriate with poor access

As Councillors we have been working for months on a compromise position suggesting improved accessibility via Pheasant Road to a different location which can benefit from strong bus and road access, and be available for both residents in Wayfield and Luton.

In October last year we supported the opposition to the Planning Request because appropriate ecological surveys had not been undertaken.

The Habitat Survey was completed in November and had 2 recommendations:

• A specific botanical survey is undertaken in late spring/early summer to allow the impact of the proposals to be more fully assessed.
• Suitable habitats for breeding birds have been identified and precautions have been recommended to reduce the impact on nesting birds during any clearance work

We are pleased to state that due to a requirement for an additional survey the current planning application has not been validated.

A further botanical survey is likely to be a requirement and this delay will leave any final decision on the playing field application to around August 2012, due to the fact the survey will need to be undertaken in May or June.

The most recent correspondence with the Council and NHS Medway re-affirmed their commitment to the project and agreed with the Council's approach in taking the matter forward so this matter is not finished.

We will continue to articulate resident concern that this site is not appropriate and that justification be provided to us and residents about why other sites be not considered given the change to NHS provision on the Wayfield Estate.

We are also taking advice on the Localism Act 2011 on provision for this site which gives residents a right of consultation.

This is not over; and unless all parties sit down with residents to look at alternative provision, with the support of local representatives, local residents and cross-party campaigners will fight tooth and nail.