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Letter: I Was Disappointed With Negative Response from Parish Council to My Suggestion
Published on: 16 Dec, 2018
Updated on: 16 Dec, 2018
From Norma Miller
In response to: Effingham Eye: Resignations Leave Space for New Trustees
I was most disappointed to receive such a negative response from the [Effingham Parish Council] meeting with no hope of their support for a much needed, new doctor’s surgery for our village.
Perhaps a totally unbiased questionnaire could prove invaluable. With the proposed addition of almost 300 homes of varying sizes and now a severe reduction in Berkeley Homes parking provision within the site of the new larger school, residents could be asked:
- what additional facilities they feel would be essential?
- what they would ideally like?
- what are their greatest worries caused by this huge proposed change to our village?
In anticipation of the S106 funding of approximately £2.6 million, the trustees of EVRT at one stage planned to send a questionnaire to all villagers. Unfortunately, this has not happened. However, my understanding, from their last user group meeting, is that they are considering having three alternative plans drawn up to then see which one is most popular.
I do appreciate how much work is carried out voluntarily by the trustees but I also firmly believe with development of this size our villagers need a voice.
I strongly believe that any development within the village should cater for all ages and to replace the surgery that was closed years ago would be of great benefit to both the elderly and those without their own transport.
In my opinion, it can seem easier, when considering various options, to have a somewhat blinkered vision rather than looking at the much wider picture.
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Responses to Letter: I Was Disappointed With Negative Response from Parish Council to My Suggestion
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"Found any?" - "Nope, it all looks green to me!" (See Opinion: The Future is Congested, the Future is Grey)
John Perkins
December 16, 2018 at 1:22 pm
Trustees and councillors here seem to be averse to asking residents what they want. Some time ago Ripley Parish Council asked, but got an answer they didn’t want. It was two years before they were sufficiently confident to ignore it.
David J King
December 16, 2018 at 6:42 pm
My wife and I go to Eastwick surgery. Appointments are typically three weeks. I understand that Fairfield and Horsley surgeries are no better.
With the 30% increase due in Effingham and substantial increases also in populations of Bookham and Horsley, what steps have EPC taken to address this vital and dire situation?
It would seem that the answer, to a very sensible proposal by Norma Miller, is simply to sit on their hands and scoff.
This is a matter that needs addressing now with some thoughtful ideas and planning.
J F King
December 16, 2018 at 6:49 pm
I agree with Norma Miller. With all the extra housing aimed, I assume at families, it will become necessary to have another doctor’s practice.
At the moment, a regular appointment to see a doctor takes some two-weeks at all the local practices. But of course, a car is needed to get to each practice.
Laurel Sayer
December 16, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Interesting. I would be like to know the reasons why a suggested GP surgery has been rejected by EPC. Are details contained within the minutes of that meeting or elsewhere, to which I could have access?
Jeremy Palmer
December 17, 2018 at 10:29 am
The Draft minutes are published here
https://www.effinghamparishcouncil.gov.uk/parish-council-meetings/this-year/
I assume Section 358/18 covers the discussion on the Section 106 money. I think the point about smaller surgeries being superseded by expanded or merged existing surgeries raises an additional point, namely that Horsley and Bookham may end up with their own s106 funds from large developments in their locales, so it might make sense for all the Parishes to work together and decide who provides what facilities.
Just as the KGV is used by people beyond Effingham, so the Horsley and Bookham surgeries cover much wider areas than their own parishes, so one might envisage, say, Horsley focusing its s106 monies to provide a much larger surgery which could cover all three parishes, while Effingham focuses on providing excellent sporting and leisure facilities for all three in the rebuilt KGV.
This is just blue-sky thinking but I do see the benefit in “pooling” (I use the term used very loosely) these s106 monies for the benefit of all newcomers and existing residents in these villages. The parish boundaries are being eroded by green belt development in any case, so perhaps it’s time for the villages to work as one.