Work begins on Woolpit community car park
Pictured from left to right, Julia Ewans chair of Woolpit Parish Council; Harry Richardson, Mid Suffolk cabinet member for health and wellbeing; Lois Wreathall, deputy director of Primary Care at West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group; Dr Ben McCann, partner of Woolpit Health Centre, Suzie Morley, leader of Mid Suffolk District Council; Helen Geake, ward member for Woolpit; Andy Mellen, Suffolk County Council councillor for Woolpit. Photo: Gregg Brown and Mid Suffolk District Counci.l
A start has been made on a much-needed car park serving Woolpit Health Centre and the local community.
Mid Suffolk councillors were joined by NHS representatives today (Friday, August 20) to mark the beginning of the project which has been made possible following the transfer of land earlier this year to Mid Suffolk District Council from David Wilson Homes, who are currently building new homes in the village.
Since permission was granted for this development, the council has worked closely with Suffolk County Council, Woolpit Health Centre, the NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group and Woolpit Parish Council to ensure that the transferred land best meets the needs of the community for years to come.
It will initially be used as an additional car park for Woolpit Health Centre, enabling the surgery to meet demand from housing growth in the area and continue to serve patients from almost 30 surrounding towns and villages. The 120 new parking spaces created by the land will also be invaluable in the ongoing Covid-19 and flu vaccination effort, accommodating potential extra demand if booster jabs are required in the winter and beyond.
Further community uses for the car park are currently being explored with Woolpit Parish Council, who have lent their support to proposals and joined today’s ground-breaking ceremony.
Mid Suffolk District Council leader Suzie Morley was in attendance, as were other district and county councillors, Woolpit GP Dr Ben McCann and representatives from David Wilson Homes and Breheny Civil Engineering.
Harry Richardson, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It’s wonderful news that work has begun on this exciting collaborative project, which is set to make a real difference to Woolpit and the wider community by delivering the facilities needed to meet local demand for health care.
“I’d like to thank all those involved to date, including the CCG, Suffolk County Council and Woolpit Parish Council, as we continue to work together to achieve our ambition for all Mid Suffolk residents to lead active and healthy lives, whilst managing their own health and wellbeing.”
Dr Ed Garratt, chief executive of West Suffolk CCG, added: “We believe the construction of this new car park will really increase ease of access for many people to the health centre. We know the local communities really value this health centre facility and the CCG is pleased to have been involved in supporting the development of plans. We look forward to continuing our work with partners.”
Construction of the new facility, including significant drainage and resurfacing works, is due to be completed in November.
Funding for the car park will be provided from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – paid by housing developers to provide facilities needed to meet growth – following approval from Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet in June.
The project has been awarded to Breheny Civil Engineering.