A SENIOR Bishop’s Waltham doctor has said there is “no plan B” for the town’s stretched GPs’ surgery if a retailer pulls out of plans to build a new practice.

Sainsbury’s was set to build a £1.6 million facility alongside its new superstore in Abbey Mill under plans approved in 2011.

But last week the Hampshire Chronicle reported that the project is in doubt after the retail giant confirmed it was dropping dozens of planned supermarkets.

Dr Simon Hunter said there have been “no discussions” about the future of the surgery should Sainsbury’s pull out of the scheme.

“We don’t have a contingency plan,” he said.

“We have looked for various deals at redeveloping this site or moving elsewhere, but nothing else has been affordable or practical.

“If it doesn’t go through, we carry on in this building and we make do. It’s not ideal, but this is reality”

The surgery’s doctor-to-patient ratio has long been above the national average and requires expansion to take on more GPs.

Dr Hunter said the surgery’s workload has quadrupled since it opened in the late 1970s, with its patient base growing from 8,000 to 13,000.

And the town’s population is set to grow further in the next 20 years with 500 new homes proposed by Winchester City Council.

Dr Hunter added: “We get nods from various people around the village about bits of land which are coming up, but we’re competing against property developers.

“Housing prices are buoyant — we can’t compete against a property developer.”

Sainsbury’s has frustrated civic chiefs by refusing to confirm whether the store is going ahead, saying it is “under review”.

Cllr Rob Humby, leader of Winchester City Council and Bishop’s Waltham’s county councillor, said the surgery will be “first on the list” of priorities if the giant retailer does eventually pull out.

“We know it’s a significant issue for Bishop’s Waltham and we need them now to do something,” he said.

“We’re not too fond of what Sainsbury’s are doing.”

He added that he didn’t know whether the city council could “dictate” a contribution to local healthcare from a property developer.