Basildon Recorder April 27 2007

HEALTH chiefs fear Basildon will face a crisis if more medical centres are not built to cope with increased housing levels.
   Basildon Council has to find sites for 10,700 homes over the next decade, but primary care trust bosses fear not enough health centres are being planned. Trust bosses have met with the council's regeneration arm, Basildon Renaissance Partnership, to press for medical centres to be included in the Basildon town centre masterplan.
   The fears were raised as councillors rejected plans that would have seen Kingswood Medical Centre, in Clayhill Road, Basildon, transformed into a new superclinic at the latest development control committee.
   As well as facilities for doctors, it would have offered room for dentists, opticians, alternative practitioners and pharmacists, housed in two new buildings.
   Owen Richards, regeneration manager for South West Essex Primary Care Trust, said: "Multi-use centres like this will be vital for the future of Basildon healthcare.
   "More than 3,000 homes are planned for Basildon town centre, but at the moment there is no healthcare provision."
   The practice argued the changes would help cater for the expanding population of the town and ease pressure on Basildon Hospital.
   However, council officers recommended refusal amid claims the plans had inadequate parking with just 16 spaces and would eat up part of the Kingswood Open Space recreation area.
   In a heated debate, councillors struggled with which way to vote, with, at one stage, Sylvia Buckley, committee chairman, recommending the application be approved on the condition more parking was provided.
   She failed to specify how much parking and fellow members accused her of jumping the gun.
   Her recommendation was retracted when Clive Simpson, head of planning, pointed out more parking areas would eat further into the playing fields. 
   The development was voted out by six votes to two.