Councillor sends open letter to health board CEO after ‘no objections’ to 450 new homes planning application

Betsi Cadwaladr health board has been accused of “putting its political masters before people’s health” after no objections were made to a planning application for over 450 houses.

As we reported from the meeting questions were raised why Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board had failed to submit any formal objections to the plans despite raising significant concerns.

The documents for the planning application noted the health board raised ‘no objection’ but also said:

“Expresses significant concerns about the sustainability of local Primary Care services if the proposal goes ahead and about the physical space available within current Primary Care facilities to accommodate more patients in the area, as well as clinical staffing concerns. However, confirmed that financial contributions would not be sought. “

Councillors also raised concerns on whether the health board – which remains in special measures – could deal with the added pressure generated by large scale housing developments.

Despite this the outline planning application was approved after a 7-6 vote in favour.

Speaking after the meeting Councillor Becca Martin and Plaid Cymru’s prospective candidate for the next General Election has branded that non-objection as ‘ducking the opportunity to stop things getting worse’.

Cllr Martin said: “I’m astounded, as are my Plaid Cymru colleagues on the planning committee, that the health board could express significant concerns about how the NHS locally would cope with these new patients but still not raise a formal objection.

“Worse still, it didn’t request a contribution should be made by the developer to meet future demands on the NHS caused by the new housing estate.

“I’ve written to Betsi Cadwaladr’s new chief executive to ask why the board has failed to make stronger representations to protect health services locally.

“To say that it has significant concerns about the sustainability of GP services in the area and then simply roll over and make no formal objection is astounding.

“Many local residents already struggle to access a GP, let alone an NHS dentist, get into A&E or get an ambulance.

“Now that this housing development has had permission, where are the people that would move onto this estate going to access a GP?

“The planning authority does acknowledge this development is making things more difficult for the NHS but simply shrugs its shoulders that it’s not their problem.

“That’s why our planning system is broken. It’s not fit for purpose if it doesn’t take a wider view of the impacts of its decisions.”

The site set to be redeveloped into housing

She also questioned the motivation behind Betsi Cadwaladr not challenging more strongly: “Betsi is in special measures again and that means its being run directly by the Welsh Government.

“This is the same Welsh Government whose inspectorate has deemed that Wrexham needs thousands of new houses on greenfield sites surrounding the town, where they will merge with neighbouring villages.

“This was the first of those controversial housing developments and I have to question whether Betsi management decided it was more important to put the wishes of its political masters – the Labour Government – before the health needs of local people.

“If so, it’s an absolute scandal.”

“Labour locally has decided that building 3,700 new houses on greenfield sites on three sides of Wrexham is acceptable, regardless of the damage it does to the environment, to our public services and our transport infrastructure.

“It’s jumped in bed with big housing corporations against the wishes of local residents, who have made clear their opposition to this scheme and even bigger plans in the pipeline for the Ruthin Road and Cefn Road.”

The open letter to Letter to Carol Shillabeer, CEO Betsi Cadwaladr, has been published:

Dear Carol

Firstly can I wish you a Happy New Year and all the best in the new job.

I’m writing to express my concerns about the response of BCUHB to a large housing development that went before Wrexham Council’s planning committee last night.

The plan – P/2019/0923 – was for 455 homes. A nearby site for 92 homes was also approved that night, meaning a total of almost 550 homes and their inhabitants.

The health board in its representation to the planning committee said it had “significant concerns about the sustainability of local Primary Care services if the proposal goes ahead and about the physical space available within current Primary Care facilities to accommodate more patients in the area, as well as clinical staffing concerns.”

Despite this, BCUHB did not formally object and planning officers on the night stated that they had invited the health board to make further representations that may have meant a financial contribution from the developer or may have swayed the committee to vote against the development.

In the event it was passed 7-6 and the lack of a formal objection means that there will be no health contribution from the developer, despite those significant concerns.

Can I ask why this happened? I understand that BCUHB is back in special measures and therefore directly under the control of Welsh Government.

To what extent were senior management and the board itself under pressure not to object formally and what discussions were had with Welsh Government ministers and officials regarding this major housing development?