Range of new services promised at hospital as long-awaited project moves forward
DETAILED plans for Harborough’s long-awaited new hospital will be put before council planners this month (September).
Report by Ian O’Pray, follow him on Twitter
The East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (ELR CCG), which is behind the project at St Luke’s in Leicester Road, confirmed this week that early designs have been drawn up ahead of a planning application to Harborough District Council due by the end of September.
It also confirmed the new unit - to be built by 2014 - will include a GP practice, minor injuries unit, out-patients department and bases for community nurses and patient transport, as well as providing phlebotomy, radiology, physiotherapy, audiology and mental health services.
The project will see a brick clad, steel structure built at the St Luke’s site.
The announcement was made following a meeting last Thursday to discuss the future of the war memorial housed in the portico of the Cottage Hospital in Coventry Road.
The building will be sold as part of the project and groups including the Royal British Legion, Market Harborough Civic Society and the Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity attended the meeting in a bid to safeguard the memorial’s future.
Health campaigner Phil Knowles told the meeting he was concerned the memorial could be damaged or even demolished if it is no moved from the Coventry Road hospital.
And Dr Dave Briggs, the ELR CCG’s managing director, said it would now look at moving it to the St Luke’s site or the Memorial Gardens, in The Square.
He said: “More work is needed to determine the feasibility of these options and we will be starting that immediately. When this is complete we can then present the options to the people of the town and surrounding area to have their say.
“We are pleased with the progress that has been made. The application will bring us one step closer.”
Cllr Knowles said he was delighted with the progress so far and at the confirmation of the services which will be provided at the new hospital.
However he stressed there was still work to be done to protect the future of the war memorial by ensuring it is moved to a news site.
“Even with the best will in the world and with all best efforts to protect the unique feature what real chance would there be of protecting it if and when the site [Cottage Hospital] is redeveloped?” he said.
“The important thing is that the people should decide on this. I was delighted to hear from Dr Briggs that the money is in place to cover this part of the project.
“It is not a done deal, the planners will need to be involved in working up both schemes and there are points which will need investigation, some in considerable detail.
“The good news is that we secured a commitment to start to work up these alternatives and that before any final decision is made the public will be invited to comment.
“If both options are available once the investigation work has been done then we do have a commitment that community and interested groups will be asked to comment so that a final choice can proceed to the final stages.”
Cllr Knowles said the name for the new hospital was also discussed, with people at the meeting expressing a wish to move away from the St Luke’s name, which has ties to the old workhouse formerly on the site.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
