Demolition work has started on a former GP practice in Caerphilly almost two years after it closed its doors.
Lansbury Park surgery was one of two surgeries to shut in April 2020, leaving nearly 4,000 patients having to relocate. It closed following the retirement of Dr Fakande and has been vacant ever since.
Despite the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board advertising for a new GP to take over its running, no one applied for it.
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In January 2022 a planning application was submitted by Kier Construction to Caerphilly borough council to demolish the building. On February 11, the council announced it would go ahead with knocking the building down.
According to the council the property, which is surrounded by council-owned land, was not considered appropriate for the delivery of alternative services due to its "condition and configuration". So, the decision was made to proceed with demolition to avoid the "building falling into disrepair and becoming a potential magnet for anti-social behaviour".
Pictures show the former surgery reduced to a pile of rubble as demolition work gets underway.
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However, the decision to knock the surgery down has been met with backlash from locals and councillors.
Councillor Christine Forehead, who represents the St James ward where the surgery is located, said in January this year she did not agree with the demolition and instead called for the building to be used as a community hub.
She said: “Losing the surgery was a big blow to the community, and now this. I am very worried we will end up being the most deprived place again.”
In 2014, Lansbury Park was named the most deprived area in Wales by the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation. In 2019 it was ranked as third most deprived and was listed as the most deprived area in south Wales.
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