Residents ask for surgery U-turn

Published 3 Aug 2010 10:00

CALLS have been made to re-locate Alexandria's new health centre in Mitchell Way.

At a meeting of the Alexandria Regeneration Forum, the idea of building the new centre in soon to be demolished shopping precinct, instead of at the Vale of Leven Hospital, was suggested.

Councillor Jim Bollan, SSP for Leven, who is also a forum member, said: "The original plan was to build it at Kippen Dairy site, but the health board changed its mind and wanted to build it in the hospital grounds.

"The opportunity to build in Mitchell Way has come up, so we're asking the health board to look at it again."

Since the forum, Councillor Bollan said that the regeneration group has sent a letter to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde asking it to consider Mitchell Way as a viable alternative.

It argues that the houses and shops are set to be demolished, which would leave an empty area of land.

A petition to re-locate the medical facility in the centre of the town has already collected 6,000 signatures, and Councillor Bollan believes that if the medical centre is taken from the Main Street area, it could have a detrimental affect on small businesses.

He added: "One of the big arguments for having it there [Mitchell Way] is because it would help to sustain all the small businesses in the town centre as thousands of people visit the town centre from the existing health centre."

Bosses at GGC confirmed in June that £1.2m has been secured this financial year to develop a full business case for the eagerly anticipated centre.

A spokeswoman said that the Mitchell Way site was considered as an option when the outline business case for the new centre was produced, but was ruled out.

Tweet

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 03 Aug 10

Follow @dumbartonreport

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.