Royal row rumbles on over future of health centre in Lauder
Published 1 Feb 2012 09:30
2 Comments
ONLY people in Lauder should be allowed to vote on the future of health services in the town, it has been claimed.
NHS Borders has launched a postal vote to ask patients at its current practice in Factors Park - two thirds of which, it is believed, live outside the Royal Burgh - if they support plans to build a new health centre on the site of the current play park next to Crofts Road, Lauder.
However, as the new practice is to be built on land part of which is owned by the people of Lauder, opponents have claimed only they should be consulted on whether the project should be allowed to go ahead.
Speaking to the Border Telegraph this week, local resident Stanley Gryczka said: "As the proposal involves the disposal of Common Good land then the only people who should have a vote in this regard are the people living within the Burgh.
"I am given to believe that two thirds of the patients of the current Lauder Health Centre live outwith the Burgh and may have no opinion about Lauder's only public amenity or where the new Health Centre is built - simply that they get a new one - wherever it may be.
"Furthermore, a number of people in the Burgh have their health centre in another town and will therefore have no say in the disposal of the Common Good asset."
And he added: "I would say that the council think they have a much better chance of getting a 'yes' result in view of the fact that most of the patients live outwith the Burgh."
Earlier this month we reported that new plans have been submitted after Scottish Borders Council agreed to sell the greenfield site in Crofts Road, which includes part of the public park owned by the town's common good fund, to the health board for £250,000 - £180,000 of which will be spent on developing the replacement play park.
And health chiefs said it was important all 2500 patients were consulted on the future of their health services.
Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker said: "The health centre is for the whole of Lauderdale and covers all the people and the reason that the vote isn't exclusive to residents in Lauder is that the new GP practice affects everybody and we would argue that what better use is there for the common good than for everyone in that area.
"Although about 1000 square metres will be used for the common good the common good will actually be getting back about 6000 square metres meaning they will own more land than it did so they are significantly benefitting from that."
Responding to the accusation from some residents that to include those living outside Lauder would heighten the chance of a 'yes' outcome Mr Parker said: "I think that's nonsense - it's for people who are regular users of the facility.
"If the common good had lost out then I would have respected that argument. People are not stupid. Why should they not get a say in their future healthcare needs? The common good lose nothing - there is no argument to say they lose out in any way."
The voting papers were sent out on Monday of this week and people have until February 9 to cast their vote.
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 03 Feb 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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dereks
Unregistered User
Feb 2, 21:31
Report commentAnyone with an IQ greater than 1 can clearly see that the so-called POGS protest group are homeowners who live in the shadow of the current play park. They don't want a new health centre built on the park in case it somehow bizarrely affects their property value and are using this 'disposal of a Lauder common good asset' smoke screen nonsense to gee up the other locals, who are too blind to see what POGS motivations really are about. These locals have clearly had it their own way for too long and they don’t speak for the majority of the people of Lauder. Lauder needs a new fit-for-purpose health centre; the current play park location is ideal; the current play park is a vandalised dump; the kids will get a brand new play park with new modern equipment; and all the people of Lauder will be in a win-win position! Even the POGS outfit and they don’t even realise it yet. Vote YES!
Recommend?
Yes 8
No 1
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sharp
Unregistered User
Apr 9, 19:14
Report commentI for one, totally disagree with the selling of our play park. I do agree 100% that we need a new health centre but built on other ground already offered to NHS.
- the new play park will be hidden from sight of residents and the public walking/driving along crofts road. There will also be a large fence obscuring the view of the new play park at a height of 3 metres. (The older children will use it as a haven for drug/alcohol abuse). How long will the new modern equipment stay safe? It will be vandalised in a short space of time.
- Lauder is increasing in size. The park is the only recreational area we have for the people of lauder which is also used by the primary school. I am also thinking of future generations. In 50 years....how big will lauder be? How little recreational area will be left for us then? (Why build a health centre here when there are other offers of land centrally located?)
-The council do not own any more land in lauder. We cannot get more land. Once it is gone.....it is gone forever. We need the space now and in the future generations to come. Save our space.
By the way......I do not live in the shadow of the present play park!!!
Recommend? Yes 1
No 1
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