Landowner claims Wivenhoe medical centre backers left him in dark (From Essex County Standard)

Landowner claims Wivenhoe medical centre backers left him in dark

8:00pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News

A FARMER says he has been left in the dark by Health bosses who secretly dropped plans to build a medical centre on his land.

Last week, it was revealed a project to build a long-awaited health centre for Wivenhoe next to the town’s fire station had been shelved in favour of building it at Cook’s Shipyard.

NHS North Essex approved £1.5 million for the project, which could bring minor surgery, mental health services, physiotherapy and more to Wivenhoe, back in February.

Last week, politicians were told project managers Realise Health and the Wivenhoe surgery, currently based in The Avenue, could not reach a deal with landowner Charles Gooch.

But Mr Gooch said he the only explanation he had been given as to why the deal, first agreed back in 2008, was no longer supported was that it would be easier to secure planning permission at Cook’s Shipyard.

See Friday's Gazette for the full story