Controversial surgery plans are scrapped

Dec 9 2010 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new surgery on land occupied by Bothwell’s nature trail have been scrapped.

Environment group Brighter Bothwell expressed anger when they got wind of the scheme for a two-storey building and car park earlier this year, which they said would have a “significant impact” on the nature trail.

However, the group – who were behind an £80,000 revamp of the trail five years ago – were this week delighted to learn the scheme has now been abandoned.

In June, South Lanarkshire Council’s estates committee approved a £295,000 lease to developers Alexander Braidwood Ltd for two-thirds of an acre of land off Clyde Terrace.

Officials told councillors Bothwell Medical Practice would be unable to meet the demand for their services due to accommodation constraints in their existing Uddingston Road premises.

But Bothwell and Uddingston councillor Henry Mitchell pointed out this week the developer was not proceeding with the plans which, he said, had always been “speculative.”

He added: “In terms of Bothwell that’s the end of it for the foreseeable future.

“It was just a speculative application anyway. The doctors are perfectly happy in the current surgery.

“The developers had identified a need in Uddingston, and they had assumed there would be a need in Bothwell in due course.”

A Brighter Bothwell source said: “We are very pleased. The nature trail is the village’s green lung and we don’t want to see any development there at all.

“I’m sure some villagers would like a new two-storey health centre. However, the nature trail isn’t the appropriate site.”

Council officials had claimed in a report prepared for the estates committee that the Bothwell Medical Practice on Uddingston Road had been “outgrowing” their premises and were “unable to expand on their existing site.”

Councillors on the estates committee had voted for the lease by nine votes to seven and the committee chairman Jim Docherty had pointed out a medical facility was preferable to green space and that the lease amounted to a “major capital receipt.”

But following approval, Bothwell Medical Centre senior partner Dr Roy D’Silva said the practice had not approached any developer and it had no intention of moving.

No-one was available for comment this week at Alexander Braidwood Ltd.