Wrexham: Concern as Betsi fails to object to development

Plaid Cymru councillor Becca Martin has accused the health board of putting 'its political masters before people's health' after failing to object to a large housing development on the outskirts of Wrexham.

Earlier this week, the green light was given to build 455 new houses on land directly off the A541 Mold Road near Gwersyllt. 

With the current pressures on healthcare services in Wrexham, concerns had been raised by BCUHB to the local authorities' planning department, however, no formal objection was made.

Plans for the new homes (Image: Planning documents)

The health board, along with colleagues at the Welsh Ambulance Service recently issued a plea about the sustained pressures on staff after 18 ambulances were seen queuing outside the Maelor Hospital. 

Cllr Martin said everyone in Wrexham was aware of the current pressures on the NHS locally but that the health board 'ducked the opportunity to stop things getting worse'.

She added: "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."

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Carol Shillabeer, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board CEO, said: "As an apolitical organisation we routinely comment on planning applications, as we did in this instance.

"It is important considerations in relation to the provision of healthcare services are brought to the attention of planners. However, we recognise these considerations need to be balanced with other needs, such as housing for people in the area.

“This particular councillor has written to me and I will respond to those concerns in due course.”