Maria met local NHS Chiefs again on Friday to ask why there has been further delay to the long awaited permanent Rooksdown GP surgery. Planning permission was granted to the NHS three years ago, but building works are yet to start work on this essential local service. 

Maria said: “Residents are right to be angry at the delay in starting work on a permanent GP surgery. Rooksdown residents have endured a catalogue of delays to essential local services being established as a result of poor planning when the main estate was started more than 10 years ago.

"Detailed plans, funding and planning permission have been in place for 3 years but the NHS has not delivered the new GP surgery residents so badly need. I was given a clear commitment by the NHS that works were to commence in March but then it was found that the detailed plans no longer adhered to new building regulations. 

"At my meeting with NHS Properties on Friday I was assured that the building contractor, new plans and financing were now in place. The GP Practice have also confirmed to me that they have reached agreement on the lease for the new building. I have made it clear to NHS Property that there can be no further delays. With 10 000 houses planned to be built as part of the new Local Plan it is essential that new services are in place alongside those new homes to ensure we learn the lessons of poor planning in the past."