COUNCILLORS are in support of the proposed expansion of Launceston’s doctors’ surgery, but residents close to the site have raised concerns about the increase of traffic to the area.

Launceston Town Council lent its support to the demolition of part of the existing medical centre at Landlake Road, addition of two-storey extension and formation of additional car parking and exit at its planning committee meeting last Thursday, September 8.

One member of the public living close to the medical centre attended the meeting to put forward his concerns.

These included the width of Landlake Road by the medical centre, which he said is around 9ft wide. He added: “This isn’t suitable for the volume of traffic. Before it goes through it ought to be known an 8ft or 9ft road is not on for that sort of development.”

He also raised concerns about parking: “The staff have got to park somewhere. Most of the staff park down Landlake Road.”

Of plans to increase the number of staff at the surgery after the expansion works, he added: “Where are they going to park?”

The resident also said lorries are unable to access the medical centre without going over the pavement, and expressed concern about drop kerbs on the pavement at the entrance to the centre — one of which has a bollard placed next to it.

He also said he wanted to see canopies in the plans to aid unwell patients in poor weather.

Chairman of the town council’s planning committee, Cllr Rob Tremain, said: “We are all in favour, I’m sure, of the extension to the medical centre.”

He said he personally felt the increase in parking shown in the plans ‘isn’t enough’ for additional staff as well as patients.

There will be a one-way system for traffic through the medical centre site, entering via Landlake Road and exiting via the hospital road. However, it was pointed out that Landlake Road will still remain a two-way road, as there are properties past the medical centre, but that patients may not be aware it is still a two-way road.

Cllr Tremain said: “There will still be two-way traffic and some folks won’t be expecting it to be two-way traffic.”

Cllr Leighton Penhale, one of those living near the medical centre, said he had spoken with other neighbours. He said: “During a certain time of the day when there is a maximum flow of traffic us residents will suffer a slight inconvenience.

“I personally think it would be selfish for us as residents to object in anyway shape or form, on the basis that [the bigger medical centre is] absolutely necessary.”

However, he pointed out wheelchair users from Kernow House need to cross the entrance to the medical centre, and said ‘with increased traffic that’s going to make life difficult’.

He added: “What worries me more than anything, the college still needs to go down that road to access the playing fields.”

Cllr Dave Gordon said: “Landlake Road is a highway and not part of the application unfortunately.

“We all want to see the health centre expand. Everybody’s saying we need a bigger health centre, and another health centre apart from that one.

“I think we need to approve the health centre application and these issues need to be monitored quite strictly. Any issues that come forward from this application need to be addressed separately.”

The final decision on the planning application will be taken by Cornwall Council.