GPs' surgery on former pub site set for go-ahead
A scheme to build a medical centre, retail and flats complex is set to be given the go-ahead.
The proposal, for the site of a demolished Victorian pub in Aylestone, Leicester, has divided local opinion.
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Officers at Leicester City Council, however, are advising members of its planning committee to approve the scheme when it meets on Tuesday.
The plans for the old Rutland Arms site, on the corner of Aylestone Road and Wigston Lane, are for a three-storey building comprising a doctors' surgery with a dental suite, shops and seven flats.
Dr Rohit Sahdev bought the site and had the pub demolished last April.
A petition signed by 765 residents, who support the planning application, was handed into the council.
It read: "This will hopefully be the new home of Aylestone Surgery.
"We strongly support the scheme going ahead in its current form and hope the planning committee take this into consideration."
At a public meeting in November, Dr Sahdev described the existing doctors' surgery, in Aylestone Road, as "unfit for purpose".
He said: "The vast majority of our patients appreciate the current surgery is not fit for purpose."
Dozens of other residents, however, are unhappy at the scheme, with 18 formal letters of objection received by the city council. Some argue there is no need for a doctors' surgery on the site.
Others believe it will worsen traffic congestion and parking problems in the area and are unhappy at the design of the building, calling it "bleak and brutal", not in keeping with its surroundings.
As reported in the Mercury, Philip Middleton, 48, told November's meeting: "The proposal is an utter monstrosity."
Last year's consultation found 43 people opposed to the scheme, with 35 supporting the "principle" of the new surgery.
The planning meeting will be held at 5.30pm at the Town Hall.
28 Comments
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by annoying9
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 10:45AM
“Why all the comments re parking facilities when there are absolutely no car parking spaces at the current surgery? Further, it would be interesting to survey what percentage of patients actually drive to a doctor's surgery.”
by nursemad
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 1:13PM
“It will make a brilliant improvement to the area, and will hopefully draw new customers to a dull and dreary, tired centre. Those that moan about the large amount of traffic should think about alternative ways of getting to and from work, like the bus. As for parking, the majority of people could easily walk there, or park down a side street. I am sorry that you can't see this Jules281 and have to resort to large letters to enforce your opinion onto others, but a lot of people don't agree with you.”
by Jules281
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 11:59AM
“Annoying 9 thank you for agreeing that this is a bad junction from both Middleton Street and from Wigston Lane.”
by Jules281
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 11:56AM
“Nursemad, you are your name (not sure about the nurse bit though), you have not got a clue, obviously not got the village anyway and the "local" people, the pub has gone stop dronning on about how it was in your view, thsi whole objection is about the Pathways for pedestrians the highway for the BUSY traffic and the patients, how can you have a MEDICAL CENTRE with no sufficent parking for the patients. Look at saffron Lane Medical Centre that is hard enough to park at and thats not as big as this predicted one with a hard junction to endure as well. I was always told if you have nothing good to say keep stum.”
by annoying9
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 10:26AM
“Sorry just noticed last line should say turning 'left' from Aylestone Road. Incidentally a similar situation exists when exiting Middlestone Street on to Lutterworth Road.”
by annoying9
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 10:24AM
“Wwigwag, not sure what you mean by 1 and a half lanes. Before retiring I travelled home down Wigston Lane, then turned right. There is nothing wrong with this junction per se if only left turners would be patient and wait the approximate ten seconds after their filter instead of squeezing by and hooting right turners who they expect to straddle the centre line, irrespective of perhaps the 87 bus or something of similar size turning right from Aylestone Road”
by nursemad
Monday, February 20 2012, 11:01PM
“Jules 281 you are wrong, this scheme will improve the worn out image of aylestone village significantly. Currently its dull, tired and boring. The pub was dire and a dive.”
by wwigwag
Monday, February 20 2012, 1:23PM
“I do hope they take the opportunity to widen the road to allow a full two lanes coming out of Wigston Lane instead of the pretend one and a half???”
by martin_le3
Monday, February 20 2012, 8:34AM
“This is an appalling junction, even at the weekend, which I usually have to negotiate at least once a week: so I would have thought taking this opportunity to improve it would have been of more benefit to more people than a new surgery building.”
by Jules281
Monday, February 20 2012, 7:50AM
“Nursemad, are you commenting on anothe subject? If not you really have no idea on what this is all about. The council have passed up the chance to improve the junction, unless they go ahead with the no turning right from both ways, there are 3 main roads out of Leicester to the motorway, Aylestone Road being one of the main ones so how can this improve with commuters? Please do your homework before anymore comments.”