Parish councillors push for health in planning

The desperate need for healthcare to be taken into account when considering planning applications has been raised by Saddleworth Parish Councillors Michael Powell and Sam Al-Hamdani.

The Councillors ensured Saddleworth Parish Council will write to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Housing to challenge the legal restrictions on planning decision makers to consider lack of healthcare when making planning decisions.

Michael said: “We hear the same thing again and again: when planning decisions come up, people say ‘Where are the GPs, and where are the dentists?’. The problem is not that people are against houses, it is simply that they are against houses without the infrastructure that is needed with them. And they are right.

“Right now, the Government are planning to increase targets for housebuilding in our area by around 40%. How can they do that without increasing GP provision and without providing more NHS dentists?”

The Parish Council heard the motion at its October 28 meeting. While the Parish Council has no authority to change the rules on this, it is in a position to advocate for change.

Sam added: “This is one of the things a good Parish Council can do. People feel unheard. There’s only so many times you can make the same complaint with nothing happening before you decide people aren’t on your side.

“Well we are on people’s side, and we are listening. I’ll always be honest about what we can achieve, and what powers we have, but if you’re one of the people who has said ‘but what about access to doctors?’ then we’re on your side, we’re listening, and we want the same thing.”