New health facility supported with reservations.

Artist's impression of the new Centre

Yesterday evening Chilton Parish Council voted to recommend that Babergh approve plans for a new Health Centre for Sudbury off Church Field Road, Chilton.  Councillors did however express reservations with regard to a number of aspects of the scheme.

Peter Clifford, Parish Council Chairman, who has been closely involved in the development of the scheme from an early stage, gave a presentation which gave a good idea of the design and lay out of the new building.

On the whole the meeting, which was attended by several members of the public, appeared to find the design of the innovative new multi-million pound facility very attractive.  It certainly includes many environmentally friendly features, including green turf roofs and solar panels to supplement internal energy sources.

The facility will include a Doctor’s surgery (the Siam Surgery is to move from central Sudbury), a Dentist, outpatient facilities such as X ray and chiropody, and consulting and counselling rooms.  It is hoped that there will also be a pharmacy and an out of hours medical service.  No beds are to be provided, but 12 beds have been commissioned by the NHS from private facilities elsewhere in the town to compensate for those lost from Walnuttree.

Councillors, while welcoming the scheme, recognising that it might be Sudbury’s last chance to establish such a  facility, did have some reservations.  They were concerned that there was insufficient and contradictory information about lighting and noise for example.  These concerns, which could affect residents of nearby houses, are to be communicated to Babergh’s planners.

The Health Authority listened when the community expressed the view that previously proposed buildings on the site were too tall.   It is to be hoped that they, and the planners, continue to respond to residents’ reasonable concerns as the project moves on.