‘Long overdue’ plans for GP in Cambs village given the go ahead

A Cambridgeshire village is set to get a new GP, in plans described by locals as “long overdue”. The plans for Stretham, approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council on May 8, also include a cafe and four business units.

A similar proposal for the site east of Plantation Gate was approved last January. The current plans are smaller, without the village hall and function rooms put forward last year.

Out of 36 public comments on the application, 31 were approvals, two were objections and three were neutral.

Read more: Plans lodged for 230 homes next to the proposed site of 55 homes approved last year

Read more: Councillors say people may ‘risk their lives crossing the road’ if development goes ahead

A commenter from Kitson Gardens in Stretham echoed many other supporters when they said: “We desperately need this long overdue development to provide GP services to the ever-expanding population of our village, including those with limited mobility/elderly for whom a trek out of the village to current GP provision is difficult.”

Someone who lives in Berry Green, Stretham, said: “The whole project is badly needed for the village and long overdue. To have such a facility as a surgery and a community café within walking distance is wonderful.”

The GP surgery will measure 186 square metres and will be in a similar style to local agricultural buildings, according to the design and access statement written on behalf of the applicant. The opening times are expected to be 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 7pm during weekends and bank holidays.

The design and access statement says: “This proposed building responds directly to local community need and makes excellent use of a site identified for community use, which enjoys good links to the village.”

The four business units will be 25 square metres each. One will be used as a “wellbeing space” to support the provision of the GP. A “rustic” feel is proposed for the community café, including solid oak furnishings.

The objectors’ main concerns were potential traffic problems. One person, from Feast Green, said: “Plantation Gate Number Four is a public right-of-way footpath.

“The submitted transport statement does not mention or refer to the fact that access to this development is across the Plantation Gate public footpath.

“The public's right of way will become severely restricted due to the volume of traffic that will have to drive across the Plantation Gate public footpath to access the doctor's surgery, business units, café and community buildings.”

A report by council officers, considered by councillors who decided to approve the development, concluded that the access arrangement has already been approved in the previous similar application, and is thought to be safe.

It continued: “Although the vehicular access to the proposed development, via Petersfield, does require vehicles to cross Plantation Gate at one specific location, this arrangement has been assessed as being safe for all users and has already been established through other planning permissions.”