Go ahead nears for scaled-back primary care centre

THE HSE has confirmed that plans for a smaller-scale primary care centre in Athlone are now being finalised. In a statement, the HSE said it could confirm that discussions were at an advanced stage to close an agreement with a developer to proceed with the development of a primary care centre at the site in Clonbrusk. "As part of this discussion the HSE has agreed on a revised design of the building. The HSE understands that plans are being finalised by the developer with a view to submitting a planning application as soon as possible." "The developer has agreed terms with a number of doctors to locate to the new primary care development which is part of the conditions of the HSE to lease the premises. Welcoming the news, Cllr Kevin Boxer Moran said: "I'm a long, long time fighting for this. Joe Ruane and the HSE came under fierce pressure from councillors and myself and from TDs and Ministers over this," he said. He added the HSE and Mr Ruane and shown their commitment to the project. "Now it looks like it will happen and that it's not another pie in the sky thing," he said. Boxer also said the arrival of the primary care centre would help to clarify the future of the health services in Athlone, particularly following the closure of Loughloe House and question marks over the future of St Vincent's Care Centre. The breakthrough in the now twelve-year saga over improved health facilities in Athlone came after the Westmeath Independent exclusively revealed in December last that the HSE planned to sell the site at Clonbrusk. In a statement to the Westmeath Independent on the issue at the time, the HSE said: "The HSE received two valid tenders for the primary care site at Clonbrusk. The HSE will be engaging in discussions with the preferred bidder in the next two weeks. Following these discussions the HSE will be in a position to announce the programme for the development of the primary care centre for Athlone." The sale of the site, according to the original sale documents, was conditional on a primary care centre being constructed. The site in question measures three acres and the HSE will lease the 3,000 square metres of the development used for primary care accommodation. Other developments can be constructed on the site, but they must complement a primary care centre and must also be uses included in the zoning of the land. Before Christmas the HSE confirmed that because the development was subject to planning the other uses which may be proposed for the development would have to adhere to the planning guidelines and would have to be compatible with a primary care centre development. The plan is to dispose of the site by way of a lease from the HSE for 999 years, subject to a nominal annual ground rent. The proposals to develop new health facilities in Athlone date back to 1999. After planning permission was secured for the project after what seemed a never-ending wrangle, there was huge anger when the HSE pulled the plug on the facility in 2010 due to funding issues.