Health centre project delayed

New hitch hits Doune plan

Work on the new Doune Health Centre has been delayed further.

In June NHS Forth Valley said work was due to begin soon on the new centre, following approval of detailed plans.

Construction was expected to start in the summer but there has been no activity on the agreed site so far.

Now health bosses have set a new target of October for work to begin.

The new centre, to be built in Springbank Road, replaces a smaller building which has become overcrowded due to the growing population of the village.

A full business case for the £2.7 million development had been given the green light by the Scottish Government and the new facilities were expected to be operational by spring 2019.

The process had already been beset by delays, with the building now expected to be completed two years behind its original schedule.

NHS Forth Valley board approved outline plans for the centre in January 2016 with an estimated completion date of spring 2017.

But last summer, when work had still to start on the facility, health secretary Shona Robison gave an assurance that the health centre would be completed by the end of 2018.

Trossachs and Teith Tory councillor Jeremy McDonald said: “They dragged their heels in taking it to planning.

“Every politician from the area wrote to them and eventually they agreed the business case was met, with planning agreed back in December.

“Prodded again in July, they said we promise work will begin in September but of course September is half-over and the site was a jungle of weeds, which have since been cut after my protestations.

“I sincerely hope construction will finally begin.”

An NHS Forth Valley spokesperson said: “The building and financial contract is currently being finalised and this has taken slightly longer than planned to incorporate some joint work which is being undertaken with the Rural Stirling Housing Association, which is constructing homes on the adjacent site.

“We are aiming to start work on-site in October 2018 and will continue to work with the local community council and other relevant stakeholders to ensure they are kept updated as plans progress.”

September is half-over and the site was a jungle of weeds