Decision on new Forres health centre
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A SPECIAL meeting will be held today to discuss plans for a new health centre in Forres.
Moray Council’s planning and regulatory service committee will consider whether to grantpermission for NHS Grampian to go ahead with the project at the site on Grantown Road.
Officers have recommended approval of the plans.
Councillors had approved an application for a £12 million hospital and health centre almost two years ago.
However, a £34 million shortfall in NHS Grampian’s budget has seen the proposal cut well back.
The new plan comprises a two storey central section, with a two storey and three single level wings.
It includes parking for 83 vehicles, compared to 120 for the previous scheme.
A new access would be formed at the north end of the site frontage on Grantown Road, with the junction controlled with traffic lights.
The site extends to just over 3.5 acres and is used as an informal football pitch.
There are five objections to the proposals.
Instead of a new hospital the existing Leanchoil building is to be upgraded.
Thirteen elderly patients had to be evacuated from the Forres hospital on January 2 following an electrical fault.
There are no inpatients at Leanchoil at the moment with little prospect of any being admitted before the end of November.
Work to upgrade the hospital got underway yesterday.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: "The duration of the work is expected to be in the region of 12 weeks."
The hearing on the health centre proposal will begin at 2pm in Moray Council head quarters.
