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New chance to share your views on new hospital
The Trust is launching a second period of pre-application public planning engagement to support an outline planning application to build on the Hardwick Manor site in Bury St Edmunds, and is inviting members of the local community to share their views.
In December 2020, we announced Hardwick Manor as the preferred site for a new hospital to replace the ageing West Suffolk Hospital, and the Trust aim to submit an outline planning application early in 2022.
As part of the outline planning application process, the second phase of pre-application public planning engagement will launch on Monday, 1 November and run until Sunday, 12 December. This will provide indicative illustrations and plans on how the Hardwick Manor site could be utilised for the new hospital as well as how feedback gathered at the first round of engagement has helped to influence and shape early outline proposals.
Trust interim chief executive Craig Black said: "The team really enjoyed meeting and talking to so many people, both virtually and face to face, at our first phase of pre-application public planning engagement. The feedback received was invaluable and we have taken it on board.
"Securing outline planning permission is a significant milestone on our journey to building a new hospital and we are excited that our local community is helping us shape the eventual outcome. We encourage the public to attend one of the engagement events planned and to get involved by sharing your thoughts."
A series of Covid secure face-to-face events have been arranged with precautionary measures in place including temperature checks, a one-way system, social distancing, a limit on numbers in the venue, and regular cleaning and sanitising of the equipment. Additionally, the first hour of each event is reserved as being quieter and sensory friendly.
Events are planned for:
- 16 November - 3pm – 7pm - Mildenhall – The Jubilee Centre, IP28 7HG
- 17 November - 2pm – 8pm - Bury St. Edmunds – The Apex, IP33 3FD
- 18 November - 3pm – 7pm - Sudbury – Assembly Room, Sudbury Town Hall, CO10 1TL
- 23 November - 2pm – 6pm - Haverhill – Main Hall, Chalkstone Community Centre, CB9 0JB
- 25 November - 3pm – 7pm - Newmarket – Memorial Hall, High Street, CB8 8JP
- 29 November - 4pm – 8pm - Stowmarket – Main Hall, Stowmarket Community Centre, IP14 2BD
- 2 December - 4pm – 8pm - Brandon – Brandon Leisure Centre, IP27 0JB
- 7 December - 1pm – 5pm - Thetford – Main Hall, The Charles Burrell Centre, IP24 3LH
A virtual meeting will be held on Monday 22 November 7pm – 8.30pm and can be joined at wsh.nhs.uk/live-event
For those unable to attend any of the planned events, the information displayed at the events and an online feedback form will be available on the Trust website at wsh.nhs.uk/planning from Monday, 1 November until Sunday, 12 December.
To make sure everyone has a chance to share their views and get involved, the online form is compatible with screen readers and the language can be amended.
Printed copies of the feedback form will be posted to those households nearest to the preferred Hardwick Manor site and will be available at face-to-face engagement events. The feedback form is provided with a return freepost address and can be requested in an easy read format.
Additional copies and printed versions of the information can be requested by emailing futuresystemprogramme@wsh.nhs.uk or writing to: The Future System Team, Quince House, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury Saint Edmunds, IP33 2QZ
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