Village GP surgery extension backed despite flooding fears

PLANS for an extension to a GP surgery in Sileby have been approved, despite flooding concerns.

- By JULIA BREENS [e-mail]

Hundreds of villagers signed a petition supporting the work, with many calling for the extension to be approved after more than 1,000 new homes had been approved for the village in the past eight years.

This population growth means the Banks Surgery is now “at the physical limits” of what the building and its staff can support, according to Dr Jason Fitchett.

The surgery is in flood zone 3b, an area where water has to flow or be stored during flooding, according to the Environment Agency. This led Charnwood Borough Council to recommend refusing the application.

But councillors on the authority's plans committee felt it was a “risk worth taking” and voted unanimously to grant planning permission.

The single-storey building will now gain three additional clinical rooms, but will lose one of its eight parking spaces.

IT'S A RISK WORTH TAKING, COUNCILLORS CONCLUDE

COUNCILLORS debated the risks of going against officers’ recommendations.

Councillor David Infield said: “There's some risk of flooding, and I'm now leaning towards thinking it's a risk worth taking.

“We can see that it’s absolutely needed in order to deliver decent healthcare to the local population.”