Warrens fight set to go on

Apr 23 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

A PUBLIC inquiry will decide the fate of a refused application to create a super-surgery on the former Warrens Nursery site in Thingwall.

Moments after campaigners celebrated a “wonderful” victory, when plans to build on the green belt land were scrapped, the Wirral Primary Care Trust and Wirral West Group Practice appealed to the Secretary of State.

The original application wanted to bring the three existing surgeries in Heswall, Pensby and Thingwall under one roof and targeted Arrowe Park’s former Warrens Nursery site.

But when the application went to committee, the final count among elected representatives was 10 against, with only two in favour of the proposal.

This result angered Labour MP Stephen Hesford who said at the time that he was “utterly staggered” and, together with the PCT and others, would appeal as soon as possible.

He said: “I think there was a lot of misinformation flying about which rather clouded the issues at that time.

“I am looking forward to the inspector taking a long hard and calm view at the application because I think it deserves proper scrutiny and ultimately I think it’s in the interest of the vast majority of my constituents that it should succeed.”

The public inquiry date for the appeal has yet to be set.

Chairman of Friends of Arrowe Park, Val Curtis, said: “We were not surprised by this appeal and we expected the fight to go on.

“This appeal doesn’t, however, make sense because the land in question is green belt and is on the tourist map.

“It should be protected and we will never give up on this.”

A spokesman for Wirral PCT said: “The PCT was very disappointed that the hard work and efforts of West Wirral Group Practice had not been successful in securing planning permission in respect of the preferred site for their new surgery.

“We considered our next steps as a matter of urgency.”