COUNCILLOR Thom Forester described the decision to approve the building of a new community hospital in Cinderford as “one of the greatest travesties in the history of the district council” as it will lead to the closure of both the Dilke and Lydney hospitals.

Plans to build the new hospital on the playing field in Steam Mills Road were green lit by councillors at a planning committee meeting last Tuesday (March 8).

Cllr Forester (Independent Alliance, Mitcheldean, Ruardean and Drybrook) was among those to express concerns about the application from Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, due to the closure of the other hospitals, the inability to expand the site in the future and the impact on traffic in the area.

He said that councillors were effectively voting to half the number of hospital beds available in the Forest, and also questioned why a brownfield site had not been chosen for the development, as green space in Cinderford will be lost.

Cllr Forester told the meeting: “The NHS trust and various other bodies have railroaded this application with the help of the acquiescence from Cinderford Town Council.

“It will go down as one of the greatest travesties in the history of this council.

“It is shortsighted and this whole affair has made a complete mockery out of the democratic process.

“It will lead to a loss of important recreation facilities and a green space in the centre of Cinderford.

“Not just that but the loss of a site of strategic significance both to food security and the wellbeing of Forest residents.

“The site is the former allotments that used to service Cinderford and we are doing this at a time when wheat and other commodities have hit record highs and countries are imposing caps and even full bans on the exportation of phosphorus and other fertilisers.

“We are entering a time when the allotments and services like that are going to be more important than at any other time since World War 2.

“Why didn’t a brownfield site come forward?”

Cllr James Bevan (Independent Alliance, Lydney East) also spoke against the scheme, saying its approval would lead to the loss of his local hospital in Lydney and the one he was born in, the Dilke.

“I will abstain from this vote. I think the concept is totally wrong”, he said.

Cllr Simon Phelps (Independent, Westbury-on-Severn) said he would reluctantly support the proposals, though he was dismayed the hospital would only have a life expectancy of 70 years.

He added: “I’m also concerned that with the growing population within the Forest, how long is it going to be of a sufficient size to cater for the population?”

Pete Stockall of the NHS Health and Care Trust asked councillors at the meeting to support the scheme as it would deliver significant health, social and economic benefits, and would meet the “modern-day healthcare needs” of local people.

“The building has been designed to a high environmental standard and site wide ecology benefits integrated into the landscaping to deliver biodiversity net gain”, he added.

The new two-storey hospital will comprise urgent care, x-ray and ultrasound, consultation treatment and therapy rooms, paediatric care, staff facilities and offices on the ground floor.

There will be stair and lift access to the first floor which will consist of a ward of 24 en-suite rooms, dental services, offices, and treatment and recovery rooms.

The hospital will have 132 parking spaces, seven of which will be for wheelchair users, as well as eight electric vehicle charging bays.

The building will be situated centrally to maximise the distance from neighbouring properties.

Architects working on the scheme say they have designed the hospital to reflect the local character of Cinderford, drawing inspiration from the agricultural, industrial, cultural and civic buildings in the Forest of Dean.

Cllr Brian Lewis (Con, Redmarley) proposed following the planning officer’s recommendation to approve the hospital scheme, which was seconded by Cllr Maria Edwards (Ind, Tidenham).

The committee voted to approve the plans by seven votes in favour, two against and one abstention.

A separate application to build a new skatepark at the Miners Welfare Playing Field, to replace the one currently at the proposed hospital site, was also approved at the meeting.

Cllr Simon Phelps (Ind, Westbury on Severn) said the location of the new skate park would be “much more accessible for the young people of Cinderford”.

But those involved in designing the skate park say they feel “betrayed” by Cinderford Town Council, as the construction of the new hospital is set to go ahead before the new park is built.

Sam Grist, 26, was also involved in designing the existing skatepark in 2012 and says residents were promised that the new park would be built before the old one was lost.

But access to the park has already been fenced off, and contractors are due to move in at the site in the coming weeks.

Sam said: “We’ve spent a lot of time going down to the council offices with designs for the skate park to be promised they wouldn’t start getting rid of the new skate park until the new one was finished.

“This is not above board in any way. Everyone I’ve spoken to feels betrayed. We’re the ones who’ve put the effort in to design this new park.”

“It feels like a farce. They are bringing this NHS hospital forward when we’ve still got the Dilke Memorial Hospital open. I don’t understand the logic behind it.

“From the town’s point of view and the people who want to use the facility, it just means we are nothing to them.

“They called us in, they asked our opinion, we’ve given our utmost effort and they have ignored it.

“They told us what we wanted to hear and then sorted their own agenda regardless.”

A spokesperson from Cinderford Town Council said that Covid-19 and a serious personal accident have delayed the construction of the new skate park.

They said: “It was a hard decision to make, but delaying the building of the new hospital was not safe or viable.

“Cinderford is getting a fantastic deal alongside the new hospital. Works to upgrade the multi use games area start next week.

“The town council are about to take ownership of the Dockham Road site which will be turned into a new community hub and outdoor space boasting over 40 different support services.

“The new £250,000 skate park will be open later this summer. Alongside the Levelling Up Fund and investments from Forest Voluntary Action Forum a total of over £2m will be invested in Cinderford over the next two years, So much of which will directly benefit children and young people.

“The projects will also create new jobs and opportunities in our town.”