Stanton Surgery extension plans win approval from West Suffolk Council
Plans to build an extension to replace a temporary portable building at Stanton Surgery were given the green light on Wednesday.
West Suffolk Council's development control committee approved the proposal after hearing further delay or refusal could impact on the healthcare of patients.
The committee previously said it was 'minded to refuse' the application – for a 1.5-storey rear extension housing two consulting rooms a treatment room and interview room – following concerns over parking provision.
Dr Nick Redman, who spoke at the meeting, said: "I want to impress on the members of the committee the damage that refusal of our application would cause to essential health services for the local population."
"The loss of a third of our consultation space should the portable building have to be removed with no permanent replacement would not be absorbed by the practice and we would not only have to close our list to new patient registrations but we would have to de-register up to a third of our existing patients and reduce clinical staffing levels accordingly."
Dr Redman added that new ways of working as a result of Covid-19 – such as increased telephone consultations – had seen traffic around the surgery reduce.
Cllr Ian Houlder, proposing to vote for approval, said: "Whether we go back to a normal time when Covid is finished I don't know but the fact is there is a new way of working in surgeries that reduces cars."
Cllr David Roach, seconding the proposal, said: "I think securing GP services in Stanton is paramount."
Following a petition launched by the surgery and winning support from Stanton Parish Council, the plans won widespread support and were approved.
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