Bid to save Reeth GP surgery fails to meet legal criteria

North Yorkshire Council has ruled that Reeth Medical Centre does not qualify for inclusion on its list of assets of community value.

Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh Parish Council applied for the centre to be added to the register after it was announced earlier this year that the facility would close following the departure of operators, Dr Mike Brookes and wife Marie, the practice manager.

The parish council said in its application that the site was purpose-built as a GP surgery in around 1990 and replaced an old and unsuitable building.

It added: “The GP at the time very much intended it to be a community asset and in fact sold it in around 2008 at the same price it cost to build.

“Local tradespeople were involved in its construction.”

According to the parish council, having a local medical centre allowed residents to stay in their homes for much longer.

It added: “There is strong anecdotal evidence that, without this local facility, many residents would be anxious about health provision, resulting in them moving closer to medical care, either because of ill health or because they can no longer drive.

“This would decrease the permanent population of an area already heavy with second homes, further fracturing community spirit.”

As well as GP appointments and a dispensary, the centre fulfils other roles that further social well-being and improve the quality of life for the community, the council said.

The application added: “The building functions as an information exchange, where residents can find information on care provision, available support groups, and other health and well-being initiatives.

“Land belonging to the medical centre is also used as a community garden. Numerous pieces of research evidence the way in which outdoor spaces and quiet activities such as gardening can help to improve mental health and well-being.”

The application was backed by Upper Dales councillor Yvonne Peacock.

She said: “The parish council feel strongly that to ensure that the surgery building is made safe for the community, because the building needs to be available for a practising doctor.

“This is vital for the well-being of the community of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.”

But a North Yorkshire Council report concluded that the centre did not meet the legal criteria to be listed as an asset of community value.

Assessors found insufficient evidence that the building currently had a primary use that directly benefited the social well-being or social interests of the local community.

Any community benefits identified were considered secondary to its main role as a healthcare facility.

The report also found no evidence to show there was a realistic prospect of such a community use continuing or developing in the future.

“The evidence demonstrates that the nomination does not meet the definition of community value as detailed in the Localism Act 2011,” the report concluded.

A listing on the register would have meant that any future attempt to sell the property would trigger a moratorium period.

This would give community groups the opportunity to raise funds and submit a bid.

The medical centre closed on May 31 following the departure of Dr Brookes.

However, it is hoped the facility, which is owned by the Brookes, will be used in the future by Central Dales Practice to operate a branch surgery.

Commencement of the arrangement was expected last week but Central Dales said they were still waiting for access to the building.