A DOCTOR and former parish council chair have added their weight to a campaign backing a new health centre.

Eight years ago proposals for a community health centre to consolidate the ageing Magnolia House and King's Corner in Sunningdale were first proposed.

Backed by the BEN, the Motor and Allied Trade Benevolent Fund, the application was refused in July 2014 - primarily because it encroached on green belt land, and sat on the ringfenced gap between Sunninghill and Sunningdale.

A new application has now been submitted which moves the planned surgery further back on the site and increases parking facilities to accommodate the 22,703 patients predicted to use the services annually by 2024.

Despite the redrawing, Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council have publicly voiced their opposition to the development, citing concerns regarding the use of green belt land.

Backing the build however, is Christine Gadd, former chair of Sunningdale parish council.

She said: "There is an urgent need to provide for current and future health care, particularly primary and community care and there is an emerging plan for the population of the Ascot area to have a health hub structure with two points of delivery.

"The unique circumstances of the proposed health centre development on green belt land owned by the charity, Benevolent fund, require the need to establish Very Special Circumstances.

"The doctors have done much work on this, there is also unprecedented support from NHS England and from the Clinical Commissioning Groups of East Berkshire.

"The community themselves have done much soul searching and so far 290 people have written letters of support."

Mrs Gadd went on to say that the build will leave a green space and that the gifting of the land by the charity presented an opportunity too good to pass up.

Doctor Prash Patel, of Magnolia House, agreed, adding: "By investing in a new medical centre and uniquely at no cost to the NHS or the tax payer, we have the chance of bringing some balance to the workforce crisis locally, as well as, a means of improving services for the community.

"If we do nothing, we risk years of service deterioration and attracting a future workforce may simply become toxic."

To see the plans go to tinyurl.com/l6nykpv and to have your say, email planning@rbwm.gov.uk with the heading Planning Application 17/01188.