Supermarket to build £1.6m new surgery in Bishop's Waltham (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Supermarket to build £1.6m new surgery in Bishop's Waltham

3:30pm Friday 21st May 2010 in News By Ash Bolton

A NEW £1.6m doctors’ surgery could be built in Bishop’s Waltham as part of controversial plans to open a supermarket there.

Sainsbury’s bosses have announced they will pay to relocate Bishop’s Waltham Surgery to the Abbey Mill site, if their plans for a supermarket are given the green light.

But the move has angered the Bishop’s Waltham Action Against Sainsbury’s Group (BWAG), which claims residents are being “blackmailed” by the superstore.

If built, the new surgery, it is claimed, would have increased capacity, improved disabled access, a larger more comfortable waiting area, and increased opportunities for physiotherapy and outpatient services.

Andy Moulam, business manager at the current surgery, said: “We are pleased to let our patients know that we identified the Abbey Mill site as an ideal site for a bespoke new surgery, and Sainsbury’s has agreed that our new facility would be developed alongside their proposals for a new supermarket on the site.

“We are grateful to Sainsbury’s for opening up this possibility of creating a greatly improved surgery, which would make a significant contribution to healthcare in the community.

“This is a great opportunity for us and we are excited about the many benefits that the new premises could bring for us and our patients.”

Bishop’s Waltham Action Group said it has received an “unprecedented amount of complaints” from angry residents following the announcement.

Tony Kippenberger, BWAG’s chairman, said: “It comes as no surprise that Sainsbury’s use financial inducements to make their proposals more palatable. It’s what the supermarket giants do.

“We still believe the Sainsbury’s planned superstore is fundamentally wrong for the town, and if anything, this new development further threatens the viability and vitality of the town centre while adding still more to the potentially horrendous traffic problems.

“Judging by the fury now being expressed by local residents, this is unacceptable and people should write directly to the surgery to express their views or use the practice’s NHS website to comment.

“We have received many emails expressing outrage at what many see as a self-interested betrayal of the community’s interests.

“Partners in the practice should hear this for themselves.”

The new surgery would be owned by the practice and would be financed partly by the sale of the existing surgery site, at Lower Lane, with the balance provided by Sainsbury’s, which would build the surgery as part of its construction contract.

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s hit back at the allegation that the new surgery was a “bribe”.

He said: “First of all, the idea for a new surgery on the Abbey Mill site came from the doctors, who approached us to ask whether they could be accommodated on the site.

“If our overall proposals are approved, this agreement with the doctors will achieve a significant benefit for the local community without having to wait for PCT funding which, in the current national funding climate, may not be available for many years to come.

“It will no doubt be taken into account by the council in deciding whether to approve our application, but we view our offer as a bonus for the local community — should our proposals be approved.”