Does Coxhoe need a new GP surgery off the Front Street?
Since our last edition of the Chronicle, we were sad to learn that Believe Housing withdrew their interest from the site and the proposed development of flats.
No other Registered Social Landlords were interested in the proposed flats development, however another one is interested in building out the site with 15 bungalows, or ten bungalows with a doctors’ surgery.
Another is interested in building ten bungalows and eight terraced houses on the doctors’ site, but this does not fit with the results of the previous residents’ consultation carried out by Coxhoe Parish Council.
There have been lots of discussions with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Doctors’ surgery about finding the additional funding needed to move the GP surgery from the Lansdowne Road site to the Old School site opposite Coxhoe
Village Hall. Those discussions continue with the CCG, largely around the residual value of the old site.
As a new road would be constructed behind the existing Front Street shops and houses, this appears to present an opportunity for those businesses and houses to be able to access the rear of their properties and potentially additional parking.
To see other consultations, please visit our Consulting our Communities page.
Survey results
Thank you to all who took part. The results are summarised below.
These results will be used by the Parish Council to inform its considerations and decision making. It is clear that not everyone agrees however the Parish Council is committed to doing its best to represent the views of residents.
Many of these activities are longer term aims for an already busy Parish Council, which means that plans and considering resource requirements will take place over coming months and quite possibly years. They also involve working with partners and other organisations, which again takes time and consideration.
Most of the comments received are also below. Please note that identifying characteristics have been removed to remove the risk of people being identified, but the Parish Clerk is considering all responses, including those where a response was requested. The Parish Clerk will be contacting people who requested a response, and when appropriate those who said they would like to be kept informed; please bear with Officers while this takes place.
Consultation on GP Surgery and the Front Street survey results
Does Coxhoe need a new GPs surgery off the Front Street?
Yes 175
No 37
Abstained 5
(a) Should the Parish Council include its adjoining land with the developers land to enable building of 10 bungalows for rent?
Yes 154
No 60
Abstained 4
(b) If the CCG and GPs decide not to join the scheme, do you think houses should be built on the Old School or another 5 bungalows for rent?
Houses 27
Bungalows 180
Abstained 11
(c) Should this development help fund improvements to the adjoining Coxhoe Churchyard such as upgrading of and new paths, fences and potentially a memorial garden for burying ashes?
Yes 199
No 14
Abstained 3
216 responses
Comments:
1. This would enable both businesses & private parking, [] to remove cars from the front street. At the moment [those] who live on the front street have no parking facilities. The doctors surgery is very difficult to access for the elderly and those with limited mobility. Either way you approach it, it’s an incline or a steep decline, it’s lethal in the winter months.
2. Any development of this site should aim to generate as little traffic as possible because the bus stop, exit from the car park, pedestrian crossing etc make this a very busy part of the village already.
3. We need a new doctors surgery
4. New surgery needed because of extra houses being built, hard enough now to get an appointment
5. Front street a bit tight for Drs for access not quite sure where you mean for access to it. Bungalows are a good idea there.
6. Bungalows should definitely be considered as our village population has a high percentage of elderly residents. Two bedroom bungalows would be a positive step to help solve this problem.
7. The proposal for a new GP surgery and combined bungalow development offers the best possible compromise and acceptable outcome.
8. Not sure if we need one or not but if it’s fur better facilities and people being able to access service locally then it is a yes It’s a yes so long as it doesn’t compromise the one we have and jobs linked to it
9. We are newcomers, love the area and friendly people. Any future improvements are welcomed.
10. As I put forward when you had the gathering at the village hall some time ago. Any properties built should be provided for over 55’s .
11. I said yes to move the doctors because if the housing keeps being added too then a larger doctors will be necessary to cope with the population growth I’ve seen in my life time living in coxhoe.
12. We need a new doctors surgery with ample parking available close by.
13. Would love new paths for the church yard also if you build new bungalow could you make sure they are safe with security cameras it fencing around them To keep the old people safe as they are having a rough deal down there at the moment with the fires etc . Thank you ,
14. I would still prefer the idea or flats for the elderly if that could still happen, but affordable!) bungalows is better than houses.
15. The amount of homes being built we need bigger surgury and more parking space
16. An interesting point is that one of your other surveys regarding the traffic problems of Cornforth Lane is compounded by the traffic accessing the Doctors in its current location. I would 100% support relocating the Doctors Surgery in Coxhoe. This would have a beneficial effect on the traffic problems on Cornforth Lane.
17. I would like to see more social housing for rent. I heard mention of renrals for over 55years on this site? Bungalows are always snapped up by the elderly, nothing available for 55+ years. Private renting is so expensive.
18. Q1 the doctors surgery does not need to be built on front st
Q2 why build bungalow or houses parking is needed.
Q3 more retail space is needed not more houses
Q4. This should be done anyway.at
This survey is a waste of time anyway the council will do what it wants anyway a meaningless exercise
19. No more building houses of any kind …we do not need a new doctors
20. I believe Coxhoe Commercial land is best option for the medical centre.
21. Why is the existing GP surgery no longer suitable? Rsther than building more accommodation the old school land should be used for recreational/community purposes, ie community garden or market place to hold outdoor markets
22. Doctors surgery should stay where its at I think it better where it is
23. I thought new provision for a GP surgery was taken into account on the Integra site?
24. Any funding should be put towards a new school
25. The C of E has an abundance of land/revenues to pay for upkeep of footpaths etc on its ‘ own land.
26. Who would be responsible for the development of the bungalows and who would be the landlord?
Surely the Parish Council do not have the powers nor the experience to be a social al landlord.
I’d have no issue with a proper social landlord building homes for rent.
I think a new Doctors surgery is necessary but don’t necessarily have to be off the Front Strret so I can’t answer that question. I do not feel any profit should be spent on anything that only benefits a few. I think the Parish Council should reduce the precept it has increased by four times the rate of inflation at least over the last four years.
There is no costing to this whatsoever.
I am amazed that such a range of issues are being put forward outside any parish planning process. or even an unsupported neighbourhood planning process.
27. No more houses please!
28. I think for the houses Vs bungalow question I think whichever is most in demand.
29. Do we need a new surgery or is it just not being utilised to its full potential? Would we benefit from having a small hospital like Sedgefield? Could the surgery run online consultations to save time, money and space?
30. Definitely no more houses!
31. How much parking would be attached to the Doctors surgery for patients?
32. Non
33. STOP sanctioning the building of extra houses as a makeweight to offset the costs of a larger sugery, this is a cost that your cronies at DCC should have been funding organically, not waiting its its all too late or using it as a threat to developers who will just go elsewhere anyway.
34. If the development goes ahead without a surgery at this time it removes our option of ever developing a surgery in this area.
35. I still think that the speed limit on the bypass going past the new houses and farm needs to be reduced now that they have put a set of traffic islands in . That is an accident waiting to happen.
36. I [] was born and raised in coxhoe, what happins in the coxhoe parish has a major impact on my family’s life and the life of my elderly parents who live in coxhoe, thank you
37. The church yard . It dose need new paths as soon as possible. It’s very difficult for any one with disabilities to reach the top of it. Especially in the winter months
38. Is it possible to turn the area where the old school was into parking with rear access and landscaped green space? The surgery can remain where it is and people can be encouraged to use the new parking and walk to the surgery via a new route connecting them both, behind Front Street.
39. Q2. If we build more houses, where do you park for the doctors surgery. Q3. If answer to Q2 is no. why whould I want to build either. so answer to Q3 is neither.
40. I support the building of a new GP surgery on the Front street but no further development of houses or bungalows. I answered Q3 bungalows as this would be my preference given the 2 choices but would prefer the land to be carparking or further shop space.
41. I selected no to the gp surgery purely because I don’t see a problem. I have always been able to get an appointment when needed etc. If the paths etc were to be re done at the church I would also suggest cameras due to the amount of antisocial behaviour around that area
42. Don’t want it to end up a ghetto area for groups of youths… needs to be well lit with possible cctv would be awful for older people trapped and tormented by [] youths whose parents don’t know where they are…..
43. In answer to 3 & 4 .If the old school site is not to be a new GP practice then something other than housing should be considered that is of benefit to the community
44. Is this building/location future proofed? Should this development (including housing) and the proposed Village Hall/Coop car park materialise concerns about junction hazards on the front street with the vast increase in new turning traffic coupled with usual [] speeders. What about a different location?
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