Plans to extend the GP surgery in Peasedown St John have received the backing of the village’s community leaders.

B&NES Councillors, Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan (Independent), have given their support to plans to extend Hillcrest GP Surgery, creating a retail pharmacy and additional clinical rooms. Cllr Karen Walker said: “One of the consistent issues that residents raise with me is the need for more healthcare services – notably in the form of a bigger GP surgery.

“As a community, we value our local GP Surgery, Hillcrest, and appreciate the efforts of all the staff who work hard to care, support and heal the thousands of people who sit in their waiting room every year. We want to ensure though that the surgery will always be able to meet the demands of people’s healthcare needs in the 21st century and have the resources to cater for the growing number of residents in our village. Cllr Bevan and I have written to the planning officer giving our full support for the plans.”

Cllr Bevan believes that in order to cater for the medical needs of the village’s 7,000 residents, the success of this planning application is essential. She has also called for better and easily usable disabled access for wheelchair users to and from the surgery building. In an email to the Practice Manager in response to residents’ requests, she has asked for a permanent ramp to be installed at the surgery entrance.

In conjunction with the planning application, the Councillors are also arranging for a new bus shelter to be erected at the nearby bus stop.

A decision from B&NES is expected around 18th September. To see the plans, visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/projects/bathnes/developmentcontrol reference 15/03033/OUT