Priory Vets’ plan to move into site of closing Burton Surgery

A DOCTORS’ surgery in Burton could become a vet practice under plans currently being considered by BCP Council.

In December Christchurch Medical Partnership, which runs Burton Surgery, announced it will close the practice and move patients to its Orchard and Barn practices to cut costs and streamline services.

Now an application has been submitted to change the use of Burton Medical Centre on Salisbury Road, to become a veterinary practice run by Priory Vets. Currently a planning condition dating back to 1972 dictates the building can be used only as a doctors’ surgery.

A planning report by agents Proctor Watts Cole Rutter revealed: “The current doctors’ practice is to vacate the premises. No other doctors have expressed interest in the premises, so the land owner is looking to sell the property.”

The statement explained that Priory Vets – currently in Purewell on the site of two small converted houses – was cramped, poorly laid out and difficult to adapt to modern standards.

The relocation of the business to the former surgery site would give the vets a larger premises which could easily be adapted from its current use and provide a similar level of parking, it added.

“The recent decision by the doctors operating from Burton Medical Centre to vacate, in favour of the Purewell premises in Christchurch, has provided an opportunity for the applicant to relocate locally so they can still serve their patient base,” the report added.

“On this basis the property will become vacant. The question of loss of existing community facility does not arise as, irrespective of this application, it will become vacant and the loss will occur.”

So far the application has received around 80 objections from villagers who want the building retained as a surgery.

Writing in objection, one resident said: ”Burton village is made up of a full range of ages of households. Moving the GP surgery from the village to Purewell will require patients to use their own or public transport, which will not be appropriate in many cases. The building is ideally suited for use as GP surgery, being central to the village.”

Another said: ”I object to the proposed plan as this would leave the village without a local surgery. There are a high number of elderly who live in the village and to move it down to Purewell would leave them to have to travel. Although there is the possible use of public transport, if they have an early appointment then they may not be able to use their bus passes.”

The public have until Friday to comment on the change-of-use proposal.

Burton Surgery is due to close on 30th August.