‘We can’t cope with demand of extra houses’ says Wrexham GP practice

A Wrexham GP surgery says it can no longer cope with the demand being placed on it by new housing developments.

Alyn Family Doctors is currently consulting on plans to close Gresford Health Centre and relocate patients to its branches in Rossett and Llay.

It has now issued a further warning about its ability to deal with the growing population of the villages in response to a planning application which is due to go before politicians in Wrexham next week.

The practice has filed an objection against proposals to convert and demolish disused farm buildings on Gamford Lane in Rossett in order to create eight new houses.

They also disputed previous comments by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board that they are looking to expand some of their facilities.

In their response, they said: “As a practice we are already overstretched and cannot cope with current workload and any other developments in our area are unmanageable.

“Numerous developments have already occurred in our practice area and we cannot continue to absorb the pressure.

“The health board has stated they are liaising with the practice regarding increasing our practice. This is not correct.

“There are no plans to expand our premises and even if there were we cannot cope with demand.

“We are looking to close one of our practice sites as we cannot safely staff it and the gradual increase in houses in the Alyn Family Doctors area of Llay, Gresford, Marford and Rossett has reached the stage where we must place on record our objection.”

One of the biggest developments approved in the area has seen work recently begin on more than 300 new homes on land off Gresford Road in Llay.

Wrexham Council’s chief planning officer has recommended that the latest plans in Rossett should be refused, but not because of the impact on the GP practice.

In a report due to go before planning committee members, Lawrence Isted said the doctors had not provided sufficient proof that it would have a negative impact.

He instead suggested refusal as he claimed it would represent inappropriate development on green barrier land.

He said: “I note the objections of Alyn Family Doctors, however their objection does not identify any evidence of a specific harm that would arise from the development.

“They have also provided no evidence to demonstrate whether the pressures they face are as a result of the capacity of physical infrastructure or staffing shortages.

“Healthcare staff shortages are not unique to Wrexham, however in my opinion it is not an issue for the local planning authority to seek to mitigate.”

However, he added: “The development lies in open countryside, represents inappropriate development within the green barrier and will have a harmful urbanising effect on the site, the rural character of the locality and special landscape area.”

He recommended that he should be given delegated powers to refuse the scheme once a number of outstanding documents are received.

The plans will be considered planning committee members at a meeting this afternoon.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).