Last month we reported that plans to relocate the Alderley Edge Surgery from George Street to the Festival Hall had stalled again. An update on the situation was provided at this month's Parish Council meeting, which confirmed that plans to redevelop the Hall remain in a state of limbo.
On Monday, 11th April, Councillor Mike Williamson reported that "The procedure we had with some preferred bidders is dead. It has lapsed through lack of progress.
"The PCT has done enough damage to what we were trying to achieve so that all the doctors basically have is their current rent to spend.
"Paul (Tomlinson) had been working on a PFI (private finance initiative) type project but there doesn't seem to be any prospect of us moving that forward. We will have to wait until everything settles down after the election and go back to the plan to see if we can move something forward.
"I regret that the PCT seems to be determined to undermine us at every step. They have never been able to support our project in the way we needed.
"With government reform of the Health Service there is a possibility that the PCT will still exist, where that's going to leave us it is impossible to tell."
When the Parish Council revisit the situation after the local election three new parish councillors will be on board (Joseph Bergin, Melanie Connor and Sue Joseph) - all of whom told me that the development of the Festival Hall was of particular interest to them and something that they were keen to get involved with.
Click here to read our previous articles regarding redevelopment of the Festival Hall and plans to build a new medical centre there.
