Housing association United Welsh could be the key to a new health centre in Llanbradach.
Residents want an old church site in Llanbradach developed for a medical centre on the main road through the village, with bus stops outside and a chemist’s shop just a short walk away.
Plaid Cymru ward councillors, Colin Mann and Rob Gough, met the Chair and Deputy Chief Executive of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to discuss the plans last month.
Community councillor Carol Hopkins, former chair of the Llanbradach Partnership, Jeff Cuthbert AM, representatives from Caerphilly County Borough Council and Gareth Davies of United Welsh also attended the meeting.
Cllr Colin Mann said: “We were concerned at reports that the scheme might not be completed until 2019. We were delighted to be given assurances that the project is going ahead and proposals will be going to the Aneurin Bevan Health Board towards the end of July, which is excellent news.
“The plan is that the United Welsh would renovate and adapt the old church hall and also build an extension.
“The accommodation will then be leased by the health board. The scheme would be suitable to house the village’s two GP practices and cater for up to 6,000 patients. I’m hoping there can be real progress within two years.”
Cllr Rob Gough described the meeting with ABUHB chair David Jenkins and Judith Paget, deputy chief executive as “very positive”.
He said: “It was very pleasing to see everyone willing to work together to make the health centre a reality. We also hope it may be possible to provide additional services in the health centre in the future.”
Cllr Mann added: “Everyone is now complimentary about how well the village looks after ten years of the Housing Renewal scheme.
“The former church hall has been described as the one remaining eyesore. It will be great to see it restored to a good condition.”
Two major petitions calling for a health centre have already been raised by the local community.
This is good news for the citizens of Llanbradach and largely due to their efforts and those of Councillors Colin Mann and Rob Gough the councillors for Llanbradach.
It is said that United Welsh housing Association will redevelop this building in the village and provide additional building commissioned as a health centre.
I wonder what UWHA are doing to provide for the increasing numbers of homeless people living on the streets in Caerphilly as rough sleepers? and the other homeless families in the Caerphilly County Borough community? I am wondering if this `association`, which is increasingly spending Millions of pounds of tax payers money provided by the Welsh Assembly, on redeveloping various commercial buildings for community use has lost sight of its original debenture to provide housing for the needs of local people?.
Does this Housing Association work in partnership with Caerphilly borough council, and other partners, on the Rough sleeper issues?. if so they fail totally to deal with it and aid those sleeping on the streets of the town, and if they are part of the partnership which has recently considered this issue they will be party to the disgraceful decision to enroll Gwent Police into `Moving on these individuals, and, party to the decision NOT to create places of safety and shelter for these members of our community.
This is a disgraceful indictment of all those professional people working for Caerphilly council and their partner agencies who have a responsibility to aid and assist homeless people in our town.
Good luck Llanbradach on the new Health Centre which will provide increased quality of care and well being for the villages citizens.