Group’ s takeover plan fails

Angus health campaigners are at a crossroads after seeing their dream of creating a community hub in an old town hospital crushed.

Brechin Healthcare Group says it will now “step back” to reflect on the failed appeal against NHS Tayside’s rejection of a community asset transfer (CAT) bid for the disused local infirmary.

The group has pledged to continue to deliver vital support through its Jenner Centre – it was set up as a stop-gap while the infirmary dream of creating a community health and wellbeing hub was being pursued.

However, the group only has a short-term lease on the old bank branch in the town centre, which is home to the facility.

And chairman Grahame

Lockhart has admitted BHG’S future is “uncertain”.

Meanwhile, NHS Tayside says all options will now be considered over what is to happen to the infirmary.

But a £600,000-plus valuation on a cleared development site would suggest sale is the most likely outcome.

Mr Lockhart said BHG met in the wake of the Scottish ministers’ decision to reject their appeal.

“Since the decision has been made public, we have received numerous messages from folk in the community expressing their disappointment and anger,” he said.

He hit out at repeated delays in the CAT process from the time it was first submitted in 2019.

More than two years later, the board of NHS Tayside rejected the application.

Mr Lockhart said: “The support from the community over the six years since BHG was set up has been amazing.

“And raising £12,000 in six weeks to fund building surveys demonstrated folks’ support for the project.

“The refusal of the CAT request and dismissal of the appeal is a slap in the face to the wonderful people in our community.

“The Jenner Centre, with its short-term lease, will continue its excellent work.”

The appeal reporter’s ruling highlighted the potential value of the old infirmary as a development site.

BHG offered £150,000 – a figure the reporter felt was reasonable given the community benefit which would follow.

NHS Tayside said that

figure fell short of their £400,000 valuation for the Infirmary Street site.

NHS Tayside did not

confirm if the infirmary would now be put on the open market in the wake of the appeal outcome.

A spokesperson said: “We will now be considering all options in relation to the site’s future.”

DEVELOPMENT: Members of Brechin Healthcare Group had hoped to create a community hub at the town’s old infirmary site. Picture by Mhairi Edwards.