NEWS RELEASE
Released by: Peter Bone
Release time: Immediate
Date: 22 April 2009
Contact: 07780 613 457
0207 219 8496
07813 787 363
Peter Bone MP
Listening to Wellingborough & Rushden News
PETER BONE MP: MINISTER CLAIMS THAT HOSPITAL IS WRONG TO MOVE OUTPATIENTS FACILITIES OUT OF RUSHDEN
Peter Bone, Member of Parliament for Wellingborough and Rushden questioned the Local Government Minister yesterday asking him whether Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was breaching Government Planning Policy but proposing to move Rushden Outpatient Facilities to Irthlingborough.
The Local Government Minister stated that:
‘Planning policy guidance note 13 on transport encourages access to public sector building developments by sustainable transport modes. It requires travel plans, which evaluate site access, for applications with significant transport implications. The transport options are then agreed with local authorities and transport providers as part of the planning process.’
He went on to say after being questioned by Mr Bone:
‘I would certainly be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman. In respect of the provision of health facilities—or, indeed, of any major improvements to public services—a local planning authority would need to ask about the travel plans and travel assessments required to allow customers to use such facilities. I imagine that the local planning authority did that in this instance, but I look forward to meeting the hon. Gentleman shortly to discuss the matter.’
Mr Bone says: ‘The Minister quite clearly states in his answer to me that new public service sites have to be accessible by sustainable transport modes. Clearly this is not the case for the site in Irthlingborough
‘I am pleased that the Minister has agreed to meet with me so that I can talk to him in more detail about Kettering General’s outrageous proposal to close Rushden Outpatient Facilities and move them out of the town into one of the smallest towns in the District.
ENDS
Notes to Editors: