Surgery plans go back to the start

In June 2004, Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT announced its plans to close the Manzoori Clinic, Claremont Road, Hextable and give residents a new purpose-built facility.

The new centre could include room for three GPs and if funding were available a dentist could operate out of the same building.

The PCT felt the Manzoori, now 20 years old, was past its use-by-date and also could not be accessed by wheelchair users.

It began looking for suitable sites to build the clinic in Hextable and one of the first options was undeveloped private land next to the Manzoori.

But last September, St Peter's Church, College Road, offered the PCT the option of setting up the surgery on its land.

After six months of discussion the Rev Andrew Proctor announced on March 5 the church was withdrawing the offer because of the site's size and spiralling costs.

Mr Proctor said: "We tried very hard to accommodate the surgery but there were two hurdles.

"It would have made the site very cramped. It became apparent there would not be enough room."

He added: "We looked at demolishing our halls as an option but this would have put the costs up even further, which we could not meet."

The PCT has now announced it has gone back to looking at the original site next to the Manzoori and hopes to get the ball rolling by applying for planning permission in the next few weeks.

Head of the PCT Monica Blake said: "We had hoped to use the church site.

"It would have worked really well and fitted into the community but it was not financially viable."

She added: "The PCT would provide the rent and rates for the new clinic but the capital investment for any surgery has to come from a third party and the church could not afford it.

"We are in talks with developers and will meet Sevenoaks District Council in the next few weeks.

"We are disappointed it hasn't gone quicker but we will still end up with a new purpose-built primary care facility in Hextable."