Here’s our provocative section!
We’re trying to get to the truth behind the development proposal.
It’s all rather complicated…
The Doctors are fronting a development (saying it’s “the only solution” for Storrington’s healthcare provision) but actually this is a development being driven by the Diocese Of Chichester’s ever-burgeoning need for more cash to balance its historic losses and ongoing compensation claims.
Meanwhile, in the background, is the almost invisible housing developer and the apparently most generous Health Practice provider (who will lease it back to our Doctors, with funds coming back from our NHS).
No, the Doctors won’t own our village’s future surgery, nor will the local council.
Some questions to consider:
• WHY is the Millstream site with its central location, existing parking and building not a usable option? Who has discarded this option as being ‘non-viable’? Where are the independent studies?
• Who gets what from this land deal?
• Why are the Doctors fronting such a scheme – when they won’t even own their own surgery if it goes ahead? In fact, our doctors sold up in September…
• Why is this development getting any consideration at all – when it’s completely contrary to the local (democratically-driven) Neighbourhood Plan, village plans and the planning intentions of Horsham District Council ?
• What’s the role of the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group? This is the body that regulates and monitors GP healthcare services. It had a role in closing Mill Stream but at the same time is now led by a Clinical Director who also has a stake in the Glebe Surgery (and a promised payout from the Diocese if the Glebe is sold to a developer!!). Are there are Conflicts of Interests here?
• Can the Tesco roundabout – already one of the village’s worst traffic spots – safely handle a proposed new surgery and 24 new homes? And that’s not including the additional traffic generated by the proposed on-site pharmacy?
• Is the proposed development simply a win-win for the pockets of the Diocese and the housebuilder – and gets the Doctors off the hook from a rather naive lease agreement the Surgery founders signed back in 1989? But also a loss-loss for the village of Storrington …
We will be publishing more of our findings and answers to our key questions in the News section.
Let us know if you have any questions you want answered!