This evening I was pleased to have the opportunity to tour the new hospital in Crescent Drive, Lib Dem Deputy Leader Cllr Barry Aspinell also joined in the tour.

It is an extremely impressive health facility with everything looking clean, modern and bright.  It’s clear that the team have worked very hard to make the hospital work and key areas I was impressed with include:

• Patient rooms, which have a maximum of four beds and are single-sex wards, with wonderful views
• A comprehensive physiotherapy department with state-of-the-art equipment.
• A roomy audiology facility
• A good number of waiting areas, moving patients through the hospital process
• A meeting room facility for local healthcare groups and charities.

It’s a place where you wouldn’t mind being looked after and I hope that it lives up to all our expectations!

The staff certainly seem enthusiastic on getting going!

Well done to all involved.

Last December, Lib Dem leader Cllr David Kendall put forward a motion to undertake a full public consultation in Vision when the final plans for William Hunter were received.   

Predictably, the conservative majority, including Cllr Russell Quirk, voted against this proposal and, therefore, only residents living near the proposed site will be formally consulted. 

So, you can imagine how astonished we were to see him go to the press asking residents to fully engage in the consultation and to email him with their views!  

If he had voted for our motion, then a formal consultation would shortly be underway!

As my colleague, Cllr Ross Carter, Brentwood North, said, the proposed development will impact on a much wider audience than those in the immediate vicinity and is about the future of Brentwood.

I’ll keep you updated on the progress of the plans, which are still with officers for determination at the moment.  Please do get involved in the consultation and do tell me your views.

For the full story, see:

http://www.brentwood-ongarlibdems.org.uk/news/000068/tories_town_centre_consultation_irony.html