Residents are being reminded that there are only a few days left to pledge their support online for a new health centre in Ascot as the deadline for all submissions is Monday 25 May.
The plea follows the submission of a revised application to the Planning Department of The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on 23 April 2020 for the health centre to be built next to Ben Lynwood Village, halfway between Sunningdale and Sunninghill.
A large number of people have already voiced their support for the planning application; however residents are now being asked to show their support online in one of two ways:
Comments on the application can be made via the council’s website at http://publicaccess.rbwm.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=Q98HV1NIHGA00&activeTab=summary (click on the ‘comments’ button). Equally, email the council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In doing so, residents should quote planning application number 20/00969/FULL, together with their name and address.
More than a hundred residents attended a public event in October last year where the latest plans for the health centre were shared.
Local resident, 75-year-old Jackie Bailey from Ascot, said: “I fully support the need for a new health centre as it’s for the local community.”
She added: “It’s something I feel very strongly about and it would be an utter disgrace if we wouldn’t have it done.”
The proposed build forms a part of a wider Ascot Plan, which is to modernise primary and community care for local residents over the coming years and continue to improve on the health outcomes for local people.
Alex Tilley, East Berkshire CCG’s Associate Director for Primary Care, said: “Many people will be aware that a planning application for the erection of the new build was initially submitted to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2017.
“However, following discussions with the Local Planning Authority and key stakeholders, it became apparent that the proposals needed to be revisited in order to satisfy some concerns raised. Hence, the application was withdrawn and a revised scheme has now been submitted.”
The wider ‘Ascot Plan’ seeks to deliver a single, consistent, resilient, high quality and sustainable primary care service for the people of Ascot between now and the coming years, with the aim of bringing together four existing practices through better collaboration working.
Alex Tilley continued: “The current primary care service in Ascot is not sustainable for many reasons as outlined in the Ascot Plan, which is why change is necessary.
“As it currently stands, Magnolia House Surgery and Kings Corner Surgery are unable to expand to cope with current capacity and demand, with the majority of their consultation and treatment rooms located on the first floor with no lift facility for those in need.
“Therefore, the plan to build the new site would provide high quality accommodation for both these practices, with improved access for patients who are frail or who have disabilities, with co-ordinated care between health and social care.
“It would also enable access to a wider range of services in the community and a more collaborative way of delivering health care, with the potential to offer services for urgent care and on-the-day primary care, as well as additional healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, mental health teams and voluntary sector.”
