Land East of Saxon Drive & Biggleswade Health Centre

In this weeks Biggleswade Chronicle (30th March 2012) it has been announced that:

proposals could see two health centres and could see The Ivel Medical Centre in The Baulk moving to the Acorn Centre in nearby Chestnut Avenue, a development that is owned by Central Bedfordshire Council.

The Health Centre in Saffron Road would also undergo a refurbishment.

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If some of this sounds familiar, it is because you would have read it here in a post dated 30th January 2012:

At the moment there is a planning application being considered by Central Bedfordshire Council for the redevelopment of the London Road Retail Park, Biggleswade. This includes the construction of two units (1 & 2) over the other side of London Road, off Pegasus Drive, which will be used for turnaround for the redevelopment.

I understand the Fire & Ambulance Service have both expressed a desire to move from their present sites at Chestnut Avenue, to an out of town centre location. The introduction of traffic lights in Crab Lane over the railway bridge has not helped their operations.

Central Bedfordshire Council own the Acorn Centre in Lawrence Road, Biggleswade, which adjoins the Ambulance Station / Fire Station sites.

The doctors two surgeries have expressed an interest in retaining the two practices with the possibility of some shared facilities / services.

Possible scenario:

1. Fire & Ambulance Service move to Units 1 & 2, Pegasus Drive

2. Acorn Centre used as a temporary home for Saffron Road Health Centre (Dr Kirkham & Partners).

3. Saffron Road Health Centre, refurbished / extended.

4. Saffron Road Health Centre, reoccupied by Dr Kirkham & Partners.

5. Acorn Centre occupied by Ivel Medical Centre from The Baulk, Biggleswade, with some facilities / services shared with Dr Kirkham & Partners.

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Councillors Jane & David Lawrence - Biggleswade Town Councillors & District Councillors attended the Planning Appeal Hearing of 12th October 2011 as residents of Biggleswade. At that Hearing, Hannah Pattinson (CBC Senior Planning Officer) said :

that there was still no support from the Doctors Surgeries or NHS Bedfordshire for the site at Saxon Drive but CBC were working with them to find a way forward. Their discussions are ongoing and looking at possibility of the Ivel Medical Centre possibly expanding from their existing site. She could not comment on the detailed negotiations concerning additional land. There was the mention of the possibility of the Acorn Centre, combined with Fire / Ambulance being relocated to a site more accessible to the major transport routes.

Despite this, Biggleswade Town Council are continuing to pursue Central Bedfordshire Council, to try and purchase of the Land to the East of Saxon Drive.

There was a meeting held on 10th January 2012 of the Public Land & open Spaces Meeting, which you will not find listed on the Biggleswade Town Council website so subsequently no minutes. I have brought this to BTC attention, some weeks ago, as there are other meetings missing, but apparently no action has been taken. I have a hard copy of the minutes and the following are included in the "notes". (not my grammar or spelling):

Correspondence was received regarding the dismissal of the Town Councils appeal re Land East of Saxon Drive, Biggleswade.

Cllr Briars asked for a break down of the costs of the application.

Rob McGregor said that he would email them to him.

Cllr D Albone said that Town Council needs to think about what it wants.

Cllr T Woodward said perhaps Town Council could resubmit the application minus the Health Centre.

Cllr Mrs W Smith said that the Council wants to ensure the area includes walks etc and that the land is protected for the residents of Biggleswade.

Cllr P Vickers said that realistically, as the area is surrounded by houses, he wouldn't be surprised if the area was developed for housing. We don't want it developed for industrial or commercial use, the land is owned by Central Bedfordshire Council.

Cllr Mrs J Lawrence said that she and Cllr D Lawrence went to the appeal meeting where there were residents who were adamant about the wildlife in the area.

We should ask CBC if the Town Council could by the land at agricultural prices, and keep in reserve for a later date. maybe for recreation.

CBC agreed to that  the land could be used as playing fields; it was the inspector that said "no".

Cllr B Briars said that the Town Council should push to purchase the land.

Cllr D Albone agreed that the Town Council should pursue the purchase and extend the linear wood, informal leisure and wildflower meadows etc.

Rob McGregor said that correspondence had been received from CBC declining Town Council offer of purchasing the area as agricultural land.

It was RECOMMENDED that the Town Council write again to CBC to purchase the land.

(This recommendation was approved at the full Council Meeting on 24th January 2012 and BTC wrote again to CBC on 30th January 2012).