Alderley Edge Medical Centre is keen to stress that there is no link between plans to build a new medical centre at the Festival Hall and the Parish Council's plans to relocate the Heyes Lane allotments and replace them with a car park.
Dr Stuart Merchant attended the Parish Council meeting on Monday, 9th September, to represent the Alderley Edge Medical Centre and raise concerns over an email they recently received from Councillor Keegan, who was not present at this week's meeting.
Dr Merchant explained "An email was sent by Frank Keegan saying there was a plan to link the turning of the allotments into a car park with the plans for the medical centre.
"It came as a shock to the practice because we'd always understood that there was never going to be any linkage between the projects.
"We're worried that if the allotments were linked to the medical centre there would be a delay and the hard won funding of half a million pounds would be at risk and we'll end up with a car park instead of a medical centre.
"Plus a lot of our patients are allotment holders and we don't want to antagonise them, it has been difficult enough as it is."
Dr Thompson added "We're very fortunate to get the funding, I think there is one other project that's secured a similar sort of funding but it is not going to be on the table for very long and if there are any delays it could be whipped away at short notice.
"The half a million pounds make the project possible and if that half a million pounds is withdrawn then the project's not viable."
Councillor Melanie Connor commented "What we're talking about here is the linking of the car park and the medical centre. I've certainly never agreed with that."
Councillor Matthew Lloyd, Chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council, said "I cannot put words into Councillor Keegan's mouth and he is not here to respond to what he's recently emailed but I think it's a view, certainly of the councillors here, that we respect that the Festival Hall and its part in the requirements is separate from the medical centre as a project and it's a very strong commitment of the council to make sure that we hit the tight timescales which are set by the funding. It's a view of the council that we need to work as quickly as possible."
He added "I can just reiterate what the council's view is that they are not linked and that we want to make sure we can hit those dates as long as we can make sure the Parish Council is not taking on any risk with public funds and that's been our position all along. Clearly we can't commit large amounts of funds building a medical centre which isn't going to be compliant or isn't assured of having a tenancy."
Cllr Sue Joseph added "My clear understanding was that the medical centre and the existing car park at the festival hall was one item, the revamping of the festival hall was a second and the extra car parking which we need would be the third but that's way down the line really."
Later in the meeting the Parish Council discussed the medical centre and the need for a business plan which they are required to provide to Cheshire East Council in order to obtain funding from the Government through prudential borrowing, which is the set of rules governing local authority borrowing in the UK.
There was no discussion at the meeting as to how much money the Parish Council would need to borrow and what this would cover, but it was agreed that the Parish Council would meet as soon a possible to discuss putting the business plan together.
Speaking after the meeting about the delays with this project Dr Merchant said "It has been very difficult because the body that we had previously been dealing with (PCT) was wound up in April so we're dealing with a whole new set of people at NHS England."
It is now 13 months since planning permission was granted for the new medical centre to be built at the front of the festival hall. The cause of the delay and current state of the project was not discussed at the Parish Council meeting this week but I'm hoping to have an update on the project shortly.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Let's hope that the new medical centre is really going to happen after the doctors have put in so much hard work and that AEPC get themselves sorted out.
Those of us who oppose the idea of paving over the allotments (allotment holders and other concerned residents like myself) have repeatedly asked for the matter to be discussed openly within a Parish Council meeting (where public are present) so we can ascertain exactly what the whole, collective Council's position is.
It appears that this error of judgement has, unexpectedly forced the issue. Which, given the Council's reported response, can only be a good thing. I, too, hope that this pet project of Cllr Keegan's does not delay the progress of the much-needed new medical centre. It will also mean, when the medical centre is complete, that it will be possible to demonstrate there is no need to convert precious green space in the village to parking space which will neither be needed (in that location), nor used.
There is mention in the above article of 'funding' of £1/2 million... that sounds like real money eh? Alas no... once a building is built, if the Parish Council i.e. you, own it then rent will be paid by NHSEngland... the £!/2 million is simply an advance on that rent.
As to real funding... the Parish Council are being asked to become the developer... that means the Parish Council i.e. you, have to borrow all the costs of building etc. Are you willing to borrow up to perhaps as much as £2 million? Re. building costs;the Govm. won't give a penny... C.E. won't give a penny (C.E. once issued a document in which it claimed that a new Medical Centre wasn't of benefit to the community!)... the medical practice won't give a penny.
Hi Claire... is everyone against providing parking re. a new Medical Centre? In conversation, I've been led to believe that 20-25 parking places will be needed by the medical practice (doctors, other employees & patients) and everyone seems to think that those can be provided on the existing footprint BUT other users of the Festival Hall need parking, not to mention the people who use it already... so where will all the parkers go? Trafford Rd.? Stamford Rd.? Or is that not so much solving parking needs but more pushing the problem onto other people?
If there is no medical centre, then the question of Heyes Lane is 'open'. Please remember that the P.C. has not taken a single decision on what to do with Heyes Lane.
I have some time ago contacted Mr. Parkinson (Chairman of Allotments Soc.?) about a meeting... no response... I was then told that Mr. Parkinson had passed the matter to Mr. Tomlinson (an Officer of the Allotments Soc.?)... no response... I bumped into the lady who is the Sec. of the Allotments Soc. whilst out dog-walking (sorry, I've forgotten the name; apologies and a grovel) just a wee while ago... yesterday Mr. Tomlinson 'phoned me and we hope to have a meeting sometime soon (if you want a job doing, ask a busy woman!).
Hi Ruth... don't get your hopes up yet... Chinese whispers?
I hope this clarifies some things.
I wish that certain other members of AEPC were so open and above-board.
Enough said.
And I don't believe I have ever claimed everyone is against the plan. I just know it's considerably more people than just the allotment holders themselves, contrary to certain claims made by certain councillors before now.
The Festival Hall (plus its dowry of £300k) is valued at c£2m. I don't understand why it is wrong to want to protect the value of the hall by having its own car park. It is my duty as the Ward Councillor to make sure the Festival Hall retains its value - and remains in public hands, i.e. local council taxpayers hands!
What would happen if the NHS refused to sign a lease for the Medical Centre unless they had complete control of the car park (which will be only 33 spaces)? What would happen if they wouldn't even let us use the car park at nights or weekends? Do you think that is an outrageous suggestion?
The deal which the NHS want is : Build a Medical Centre, if we like it we will ask the District Valuer to suggest an annual market rent, and if we like the suggested annual rent we might sign a lease. For good measure they add : if you don't complete the process by 31 March 2015, then the deal is off. I bet you never thought we would still be talking to them after a tempting offer like that.
Now they say "it was never part of the deal to link a car park on Heyes Lane Allotments to the Medical Centre".
The Deal? What deal? The Parish Council is being asked to risk up to £2.4m, without the certainty of an income at the end of it (lots of things can delay a project beyond 31 March 2015); the NHS has risked nothing, and even the capital allocation will only take effect on their notional timetable.
Anyone would think the Parish Council has the obligation to provide a medical centre, rather than the NHS.
Despite all of this, I am going to knock myself out to deliver this project for the benefit of 7,000 patients. Why? Because the community needs a fit-for-purpose health centre, and it
is the role of the local Councillor to protect community facilities.
You say the Parish council has not taken a single decision on Heyes Lane Allotments? Have you forgotten the series of formal motions which the Parish Council approved nem con. The decision was that we would prefer to move the Allotments to Lydiat Lane, but, as a last resort, we would restrict tenancies to Alderley Edge Council taxpayers.
" it is the role of the local Councillor to protect community facilities"? Is it not also the role of the local Council to listen to and consider and respond, respectfully, to community concerns, even if they may differ from your own position? Some might say that the allotments on Heyes Lane are 'community facilities'. "33 parking spaces"?? And no evidence that they will be used.
Has the NHS refused the lease unless they have complete control of the car park? (What car park??) This sounds like thinly veiled threats. You could hypothesise to support your case until the cows come home. Give us facts please. All the facts.
FACT: Heyes Lane has 16 Allotments, some split, so 24 plots of whom 12 live outside the village. (And some who live in village have double plots)
FACT: The Festival Hall has a public valuation of c£1.9m.
FACT: If the current proposals do not proceed, there is no Plan B.
FACT : The current site, with planning permission to put a medical centre on the front, will have only 33 parking spaces. [33 to serve Medical and Hall use]
FACT : The Medical Practice have not signed a Lease to take the building when it is complete.
FACT : No one has yet specified what the building should have inside. (NHS have changed their minds) and we only have 18 months to complete and 12 of those could be build.
FACT : When a new building is complete, it is entirely possible that NHS will refuse to hand over any money unless they control the 33 spaces in the car park.
FACT : We started with a range of rents available to us; that changed to a capital contribution; that changed to a contribution to a rent by District Valuer. So, we are well used to the ground rules changing on us, despite the Parish Council offer being the only game in town.
FACT : The Parish Council view has always been that any assets on the site currently owned by the Council taxpayers of Alderley Edge Parish, will remain in the ownership of the Council taxpayer. Other Medical Centres nearby are PFI deals which can be sold to the highest bidder.
FACT : Only elected Councillors are accountable for their opinions (unlike website contributors)
Seriously, you ask for all the info... may I suggest that instead, you put specific questions (to myself and/or Councillor Keegan) and mayhaps they can be answered.
Hi Frank... what is this 'nem con' stuff? You know full well that the only way something can become a Parish Council policy is for it to be debated in a P.C. meeting, a vote taken and the minutes to show each decision; if you opine that there are policy decisions, perhaps you would be so kind as to refer me to the particular minutes? 'Nem con' may be the way that things are done at Cheshire East, but happily that particular form of procedural faecal matter has not filtered down to the Parish Council. I have checked with two of our Councillor colleagues and they too have no idea of this alleged 'nem con'.
I do however agree with most of the FACTS that Frank has posted above; tho' numbers 8 and 10 are news to me!
Finally (for the moment) may I repeat... the Parish Council are being asked to fund everything re. the Medical Centre... that could well be over £2million (guesstimate) so do the voters of Alderley Edge wish to see such a debt taken on, in their name...you are the ones whose pockets will be used to pay the debt back... speak please.
Nem con - no one contradicting! Quite a common expression in committees, not just Cheshire East. You were Chairman of Governors at Hulme Hall 5 or 6 years ago - surely some the parents at that time, or fellow Governors, can remember how you ran meetings?
Allotments were discussed in 3 Formal Motions, not just Agenda items, but formal motions which were discussed and approved at the Council Meeting of 11 March 2013.
If you care to check the Minutes for the meeting of 11 March 2013, you will see that you proposed Motion 1, which states, among other things, that the Parish Council was to approach the secretary of state to convert Heyes Lane into a car park.
Is that enough proof for you? Can we have an end to statements that the Parish council has never voted on the Allotments.
All 3 motions by the way were approved nem con.