New health hub plan continuing though slower than hoped

A bid to build a new Holbeach Health Hub is progressing, though slower than hoped, a councillor has said.

South Holland District Council said in March it’s working with the Primary Care Network and NHS Lincolnshire on creating a new and expanded town centre building for the Holbeach Medical Practice.
The exact location hasn’t officially been revealed but The Voice understands the preferred option is at the back of The Chequers where last year the council purchased the derelict former JW Limming warehouse on Park Road.
Part of the town centre improvement plans included a bid to open the area up for pedestrians.
The issue was brought up at a meeting of Holbeach Parish Council on Tuesday night.
Following the meeting, leader of South Holland District Council, Coun Nick Worth said conversations were continuing with the NHS and Holbeach Medical Centre and though there had been delays, they were “nothing major”.
“We’re after information from them so we can do the business plan,” he said. “It’s not going as quick as I’d like but we’re talking about the size of the building we need now to get it priced up.”
The issue was raised by resident Paul Poll to Holbeach Parish Council as he argued it should have been on the land the council sold to Aldi for a new store.
“That would be a much better place,” he said. “It’s on the bus route so everybody could access it.”
District and parish councillor Sophie Hutchinson agreed and argued there hadn’t been a consultation.
Coun Tracey Carter told the meeting it was “too early to say anything with certainty” about the project.
“The Aldi site is no longer owned by South Holland District Council,” she continued. “The district is in conversation with the NHS and you can’t just make a decision like that as there’s many others parts to it.
“What’s really positive is we’re in a position now where we can move forward down the road with it.”