Surprise of medical centre plan

By Janet Maitland
Barnet Council is considering a proposal for a polyclinic on the site of Finchley Manor Garden Centre on East End Road. The application has been made by Cloverdale Estates Ltd, a property development company, who are appealing against a council decision made last December.
Permission was refused then because the plan did not protect the status of the site, which is designated as Metropolitan Open Land. This is equivalent to Green Belt, with tight restrictions on how the land can be used. There was also no evidence that alternative sites had been explored.

The revised application now incorporates a “well being” garden for people visiting patients and states that no other suitable sites are available.

The proposed polyclinic will have facilities for consultation, diagnosis and treatment, including minor surgery and could therefore be expected to have an impact on local GPs, pharmacists, dentists and opticians.

However, because the planning authority is only required to consult with residents within a certain distance of the site, few healthcare providers or businesses, if any, have been informed. “This is the first we have heard of it,” said Pina Thobhani of Cootes, the High Road pharmacists.

PCT not consulted
The Archer asked the planning authority how they would therefore be able to assess whether or not the proposed polyclinic is in line with Barnet’s policy to permit new healthcare facilities only if they do not have a harmful impact on the character of the surrounding area or its amenities. In response, the planning authority suggested that we speak to Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is responsible for all primary healthcare in the borough.   
However, the PCT knew nothing about the proposal, not only because Cloverdale Estates Ltd had not consulted them, but also because the planning authority had not consulted them either. “There is no requirement to consult the PCT,” said a spokesperson from Barnet.

By the following day the PCT had been informed of the proposal. A spokesperson said: “In future, we would expect to be informed of any private healthcare proposals by the planning department.”

Have your say
Barnet PCT is already planning to build a new primary healthcare centre on Bow Lane playing fields, adjacent to the site of the Finchley Memorial Hospital. That is expected to open in 2012.

Cloverdale Estates Ltd have declined to comment. If you wish to give your view about the proposals, go to www.barnet.gov.uk/online-services/planning-applications and search on application number F/02672/08 or send an email, quoting the application number, to
fabien.bernard@barnet.gov.uk

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