Appeal Hearing for Residential Care Home at Mably Way

Today I have attended the Appeal Hearing at Abingdon for the proposal to build a residential care home behind the Health Centre at Mably Way.  This has been causing concern amongst both GP surgeries and local residents because of the restriction this would cause on future expansion of the health facilities at this site.  You can see from the photo above where the proposed building would sit, and there is not much room as it is.  Car parking is one of the biggest problems, and when the mammography unit and other mobile facilities come on site, this is even more important for people arriving for appointments.

When I was a district councillor in 2002 on the Vale planning committee, the proposals for the original health centre were approved, but this was only because the safeguarded land could only be used for health purposes.  This is part of the strategic gap between the communities of Grove and Wantage and an exception was made due to the provision of a brand new health centre where both GP surgeries could combine and work together for the benefit of both Grove, Wantage and the surrounding villages.   

Space was made available at that time for the relocation of the Wantage Community Hospital which was under threat of closure, and since then the original doctor's practice in Wantage has  been given over to a residential care home instead.  Meanwhile, the communities have expanded with more housing developments, more planned in the future and the prospect of even more health facilities being needed to support those residents.  It would therefore be a huge problem for us if this care home is allowed to be built and so prevent any future expansion on this site.  It would also deprive the current community of continuing to enjoy local health provision where specialists and services can come to us, rather than travelling out to those facilities in Abingdon or Oxford.  An opportunity gone forever.

You can see a previous blog from last year when this care home proposal came to light.  I sent in two submissions of objection to the proposals and we were all pleased when the Vale planning committee turned it down.  Today, however, the appeal from the developers has been heard and we were able to address our concerns to the Planning Inspector.  We did undertake a site visit after the meeting, and now we shall await his decision.  I shall keep you informed.