Council frustrated over lack of movement on new health centre
On March 12th 2020, the council announced it had successfully agreed terms to purchase the former Debenhams store – now Folca.
On the 15th May 2020, Folkestone & Hythe District Council announced it had successfully completed its purchase of the former Debenhams store for £2,050,000, excluding VAT, a mark up of 2,482% from its original price of £79,400 (plus VAT), on 13 Sept 2010.
The Shepway Vox Team can reveal:
“The initial impetus for the Council decision to acquire the building following its closure as a department store was in recognition that this would be an excellent location for a new medical centre (previous searches had resulted in no viable sites being identified).”
The Council in a press release on the 16 March 2020, made it clear a health centre was part of their plan to regenerate the store.
Visionary proposals for the site include a health centre, leisure facilities, flexible work space and residential properties in the heart of a town which regularly attracts national and international acclaim for its unique charm.
But since then the Council have become increasingly frustrated at the slow progress of the Health Centre option; which will mean the demolition of the Edwardian part of the building marked in orange below.
Now for those of you not aware, the results of the New Folkestone Society survey in 2022/23, regarding Folca (formerly Debenhams); showed 87% of the 1,500 plus people surveyed, wanted to save the Edwardian part of the building marked in orange.
That aside, the Council in a letter to the NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board on the 10 May 2023; which clearly shows their frustration regarding the site, states:
I am extremely concerned that the project is at an impasse which, if not resolved, will result in significant challenges for delivery of essential new medical provision but also the redevelopment of the remaining part of Folca and the overall delivery of a [redacted] regeneration scheme for the town centre funded through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF).
The letter goes onto say
To date no decision has been forthcoming and this further delay is a cause for significant concern and impacting negatively on delivery of the [redacted] LUF regeneration investment which the Council is progressing.
Therefore, I ask for your intervention to provide an urgent decision on the space requirements and floorplans in order that the project be progressed. I also would ask for confirmation that the project remains a priority and for an outline of further key decisions which will be required from the ICB?
It’s self evident that on the date the letter was sent the Council were feeling frustrated by the slow progress of the proposed Health Centre.
On the 24 May 2023, the NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board respond to the Council in which the state:
The work to agree the space requirements has not yet been concluded; further information is to be provided by the practices. I can provide assurance the schedule of accommodation remains the priority and having discussed with the practices we have agreed that this should be completed by end of June 2023. Once agreed this will enable the floor plans to be finalised and the development financial appraisal to be provided. Your letter refers to a 24 March deadline for decision, whilst this isn’t a deadline the ICB provided or committed to the importance of concluding this phase of work is recognised and hope the above provides assurance around this.
The letter goes onto say:
I acknowledge the above response highlights the scheme is a number of months away from the outline business case being considered by the ICB and would therefore be happy to arrange a meeting to discuss this linked to the concerns you have raised specifically in relation to the delivery of the remaining part of Folca as part of the Levelling Up Fund project.
The Council met with the NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board on the 3 July 2023.
What we know right now about the site, and the proposal to demolish it for a Health centre is this:
NHS Kent and Medway has not received a full business case for this development. The proposal for the building is still in development and has not been subject to detailed financial review.
The proposal for the building is still in development and no plans or design layouts have been finalised or agreed. The timeline will be reviewed once the plans are finalised.
The services the proposed new Health Centre will provide are:
General Practice services, capacity to support GP Trainees and other placements. And for example, Clinical Pharmacist, First Contact Physiotherapist, Dietician, Podiatrist, Social Prescribing Link Worker, Care Co-ordinator and Mental Health Practitioner.
It’s clear the Council are frustrated by the slow progress of the proposed health centre. But surely they should have known the NHS is notoriously slow in making decisions (think potential new hospital extension at the Kent & Canterbury) about new building proposals.
As the way things are, a decision by the NHS Kent & Medway ICB will probably not be forthcoming before the autumn/winter of 2023, possibly later.
There is still time then to lobby the NHS Kent & Medway ICB, the Doctor’s Surgeries, or Folkestone & Hythe District Council, to save the Edwardian part of the building.
The Shepway Vox Team
Journalism for the People NOT the Poweful
I feel strongly that the corner building is retained. A medical centre located at this spot is a very poor choice. Why not use the former Saga building by the bus station? It has a carpark already.
The outer part of Bouverie Place along Middleburg Square is so ugly with it’s Battleship Grey. My preference would be to expand the pedestrian area along Sandgate Road of the town centre to the old Church that was destroyed I think during the 1940s. There are a number of cafe’s there but I don’t find it appealing to eat outside when there are cars constantly driving through it. The current part that is pedestrian area use to be a road but is better for it since it became pedestrian. You would still need to allow traders to get access like the market uses to setup and pack up after a days trade. So no cars during trading time. Though this would upset a lot of people for to use it as a car park.
One of the practices who will be going into the Health Centre was put into special measures (my surgery.) I have a copy of the report – pretty damning. They were lucky not to be closed down. I assume care of their patients has improved now? Why not reuse an empty modern building, there appear to be enough of them around that area that haven’t been turned into flats yet. Why pull down this Edwardian part which adds to the character of the centre and cancels out the hideous buildings opposite it and at the side. As Stagecoach appear intent on cutting bus services, how will people be able to visit the proposed medical centre if they have no cars? Even if they have a car, forget about parking, you will be lucky to get a space and it will cost a fortune. I live in the centre which is why I don’t bother to have a car.