By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
NHS chiefs are “fully committed” to providing a new super GP surgery amid frustration over delays in redeveloping a Gloucestershire town centre “eyesore”.
Funding to relocate two doctors’ surgeries in Lydney to a new £7.5m health centre were approved in 2024.
NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board had hoped for the new 15,000-patient centre planned for the former Co-op building site in Newerne Street to be operational by last spring.
But the building remains unoccupied and there is growing frustration over the delays.
Under the plans Lydney Health Centre and Severnbank Surgery would relocate to a new primary care centre there.
The building would be extensively redeveloped whilst making use of the existing Co-op structure.
The practices would remain wholly separate entities, occupying separate parts of the building with their own self-contained clinical and administration spaces while sharing some common areas.
But Reform UK Councillor Alan Preest, who represents Lydney East at the Forest of Dean District Council, is concerned about the apparent lack of movement on plans to provide the new centre.
He said the former Co-op is an “eyesore” and residents want to know whether they will be getting the promised new medical facilities or not.
“We just want a straightforward honest answer for the community,” he said.
“We have grown substantially over the last 12 years as a town. And we need to know if we will be getting an up-to-date proper health provision put in place.
“Residents want certainty, openness and transparency.”
Health chiefs say they remain committed to the plans which are subject to the site being purchased, planning permission being sought and construction work assigned.
The practices and their selected development partner, Assura, are responsible for progressing the scheme and funding its capital costs.
A spokesperson for NHS Gloucestershire ICB said: “The ICB is fully committed to ensuring a new GP facility is developed in Lydney and is working closely with local GP practices and their development partner to progress the plans.”
The NHS does not currently own the former Co-op building and the purchase of the site forms part of the ongoing development process.