Grange Park Surgery funding battle still has some way to go.
It’s good to hear the recent announcement that Bradford Council has agreed in principle to part-fund the expansion of Grange Park Surgery in Burley-in-Wharfedale. This has been hard fought for by Dr Caroline Rayment from the surgery and has been discussed locally and nationally by Cllr Bob Felstead, our local MP Philip Davies, the Secretary of State, NHS England and the Independent Care Board (ICB).
The call for Bradford Council to part-fund the expansion of the surgery was the result of a community petition, recommended to Grange Park Surgery by Cllr Bob Felstead, and organised by Cllr Bob Felstead for Grange Park Surgery in September 2022. The petition was signed by 1,800 people in our community, without whom, the issue of Grange Park Surgery funding would never have been raised or discussed at Bradford Council. So, thanks must also go to everyone who signed the petition.
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Ultimately, the petition was withdrawn by Dr Rayment, a decision that was supported by Cllr Bob Felstead in favour of discussions with Bradford Council. In a meeting with senior representatives from the Council, and a representative of Bradford District Foundation NHS Trust, in October 2022, it was agreed that expansion would be part-funded from Council Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This couldn’t formally be agreed until Bradford Council’s Executive meeting in July 2023.
As the need to expand the surgery is largely due to the increased demand caused by new residential developments at Greenholme Mills, Sun Lane and Ilkley Road, it has always been a key driver for Cllr Bob Felstead to ensure that significant funding comes from the Council Infrastructure Levy (CIL) that developers pay. Contrary to what has been said in some recent election literature, Grange Park Surgery funding has little to do with “broken planning policy” or NHS funding. CIL policy was introduced in the 2008 Planning Act. Section 216(2) (d) makes it clear that local authorities must apply CIL, “to supporting development by funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure.” In this case part (d) applies to medical facilities.
Cllr Felstead said, “I will continue to push hard to ensure that Bradford Council meets its legal obligations under planning law.
Whilst the recent announcement by Bradford Council for up to £400k of support for Grange Park Surgery; of the total £4.5 million CIL payment, is welcome news and a good first step. It is still only a proposal in principle by the Council. I have yet to be convinced that significant funding will be delivered to Grange Park Surgery but hope to be proved wrong in time.”
Bradford’s response is shown below.
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