The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
An appeal to overturn the refusal of an extension to the Munro Medical Centre in Pinchbeck has been thrown out.
The West Elloe Avenue centre had planned to extend the building into the car park and build a pitched roof on top to improve its appearance.
It would have provided the centre with a second consultation room and bigger waiting room.
However in November 2017 South Holland District Council’s planning officers refused the application following a number of objection by local residents.
They included concerns over traffic issues and the affect it would have on their properties.
Munro Medical Centre appealed the district council decision but last week the government planning inspector ruled in the local council’s favour.
The appeal decision made by John Morrison branded the reduction in parking space to expand “illogical”.
He said: “I have no doubt that from an aesthetic point of view this would represent something of an improvement. However, the extensions would involve additional land take, land on which cars can currently be parked.
“There are other factors which add to my concerns in this respect. Chief among which is that the proposals show, to my mind, a clear expansion plan.”
“I can only conclude that whilst improvement and expansion is a good thing, perhaps not in the location where it is proposed in this particular case.”
The Munro Medical Centre’s Doctor Graham Wheatley, said: “We wanted to greatly improve the health service to patients in Pinchbeck, by refurbishing and expanding the surgery building in Church Walk. This would have provided better and much more convenient help for the many people in Pinchbeck who currently have to travel into Spalding for this.
“However, a small majority of those in the planning process have prevented this. This is a great shame, and highly unfortunate that they do not want to help Pinchbeck residents to improve local health services in this way.”
