A doctors’ surgery in Leigh Park could be back on the agenda after calls for Westbury Town Council to buy a piece of land earmarked for health facilities.
After it was revealed that the Westbury Group Practice may not be considering purchasing land allocated for a doctors’ surgery in Leigh Park, councillors have suggested that the town buy the land to safeguard it for future use.
The motion, to be put forward by cllr Russell Hawker and ex-mayor cllr Charlie Finbow, will suggest that the council bid £1,000 for the site, with the option of putting in place a charitable trust to take stewardship of the land until such time as using it for healthcare purposes is possible.
Because planning restrictions limit how the land can be used, cllr Hawker, a chartered valuation surveyor, believes that this will result in the council being able to secure the land for a reasonable rate.
He said, “The reality is that the council will not need to pay anything if another party steps in with a higher offer. If the council does need to proceed to buy the site at the end of the four year period, this whole arrangement can be reviewed at that time anyway. By passing this resolution now, we simply preserve the ability to act, buy and preserve the site if necessary.
“If developers Persimmon refuse the bid, then the motion states that enforcement action should be taken.”
John Rogers, chair of Leigh Park Community Association said, “I think it would be a good idea for the council to hold it in reserve”
John Rogers said that with high levels of projected growth to the north-west of town, a surgery in Leigh Park would be ever more important in years to come.
The community association is currently looking at obtaining ownership of the land designated for the community hall and nursery in Leigh Park and John Rogers added that securing land for a surgery as well would mean they were able to build a “real community centre.”
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