A proposal to relocate and expand a doctor’s surgery to the site of a school is being explored.
The Breakspeare School site in Abbots Langley is set to become available after Hertfordshire County Council agreed to move the special educational needs school to a larger site in Croxley Green.
With the move due to take place in 2024, some in the village are determined to retain the building for community use.
Read more: Breakspeare School move to Croxley Green agreed
Peter Warman, chairman of the Abbots Langley Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, says work looking at the possibility of moving the nearby Vine House Health Centre is ongoing.
Mr Warman said: “All three surgeries in Abbots Langley are over-subscribed; the community needs a larger health option and the Breakspeare School site is a potential option.
“Abbots Langley Parish Council has told the county council, which owns the site, of the interest in the site for a health facility. It’s a very good location being close to the existing surgery.
“We are looking into the feasibility of it and we will know the results by the end of August.”
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Relocating Vine House further down Gallows Hill Lane could allow the surgery to expand from around 12,000 patients to 20,000 and the surgery is said to be supportive of a move.
The proposal has cross-party support, with both Liberal Democrat and Conservative members behind the idea.
Sara Bedford, who is a parish, district, and county councillor for Abbots Langley, and has been discussions with the county council about the proposal, said: “We don’t want to lose any more community facilities and there is an absolute determination to keep this site as one.
“The site is far too big for Vine House to take on alone so we would be looking at introducing other community facilities as well. The parish could also look at making the school site an asset of community value.”
Conservative MP Dean Russell says he is keen to work with the steering group, county council and the NHS to bring a new health centre to Abbots Langley Parish and say he will be writing to Mr Warman.
Tory campaigner Vicky Edwards added: "We should all support Peter Warman and the steering group with their proposals for a new health centre."
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