A campaign that is now in its third year, including a 600 signature petition, will soon see Pelsall receive inward investment worth several million pounds subject to final approval on the 6th July from NHS Walsall (tPCT) and Walsall Council’s Cabinet decision on 15th July.
It all started in the summer of 2006 when residents approached my colleague Garry Perry and I to help secure a
Marco, Garry and Richard Shepherd MP with petition outside Pelsall library.
new medical centre as seen in other areas of the borough. But we knew from the outset that ours had to be different because of the limited availability of land which meant that the only option was the library site.
So an idea grew that we should combine Council and tPCT resources to deliver a facility that included a Medical centre, Library and a Children’s centre (this was Garry’s idea!). Inevitably, while presenting a uniquely attractive opportunity, this meant overcoming the significant inertia of two large organisations as well as silo working.
Then a hammer blow. After all the work to get agreement from all parties it seemed that even the pooled budgets were insufficient to construct the building. This was devastating news, but I was not going to accept this. So I started asking much more detailed questions about costings and I soon found out that prices were significantly inflated because they were based on building rates by ‘LIFT Co’ an organisation that channels funds to PCTs to build medical centres.
Immediately I requested that the Council should lead on the building of the project and this meant that a saving of around 20% was possible – making the whole thing just about viable. Thankfully the PCT agreed to this approach!
If on the 6th July NHS Walsall finally endorses the funding needed for the project, and Walsall’s cabinet agree to the recommendations in their report on 15th July, we will soon have a fantastic resource that will support Pelsall people for generations to come.
Marco Longhi was elected in May 1999 and represents Pelsall ward in Walsall.
This is, potentially, excellent news for Pelsall. I really hope the plan is given the green light as the village is crying out for something like this.
Just hope the architects don’t try to foist some horrendous design onto us, though! We need something that is functional and appropriate to the surroundings (ie – not like the library and the High St surgery).
This project is long awaited and will ensure that the people of Pelsall will have a facility that will support health improvement and fully engage ALL sections of the community through ‘access of opportunity embodied in a new Library and childrens centre.
Putting this facility at the very heart of our village is undoubtedly the single biggest community build probably for at least 50 years!
My colleague and I, supported by local people and Richard Shepherd MP, the local GP practices and Primary Headteachers have formed a partnership to see this project to fruition. We are nearly there and the endorsement of Cabinet will seal a proposal with the end result within our grasp.