GP's fears over 900-home plan for Oswestry
Building an additional 900 homes in a town could have "huge implications" for stretched medical practices and infrastructure, a health chief has warned.
Dr Ian Rummens said schools and surgeries in Oswestry could be overrun by the need to cater for an extra 3,000 people in the new homes planned for a site close to Mile End roundabout.
The 35-hectare estate would have links to the town centre and leisure centre, but a masterplan unveiled earlier this week did not show any community buildings or shops.
Developers J-Ross Developments were unavailable to comment on Dr Rummens's claims. But officials at the company have previously claimed it would take up to seven years for the homes to be built should planning permission be granted.
Dr Rummens, who is secretary of Shropshire Local Medical Committee and a partner at Cambrian Medical Centre in Oswestry, said: "This is going to have huge implications on the town's doctors surgeries but not only that, on schools and everything else. There is never the infrastructure or the funding for it, unfortunately."
"This will have a big knock-on effect. It might be 900 homes but let's say that's about 3,000 people actually when you talk about families and those who aren't living by themselves."
Dr Rummens added: "All our list sizes have gone up over the last year, and as we all know it's tough to recruit doctors and nurses as it is, and without additional resources that means more strain on a system that is already under pressure.
"There's nothing anyone can do about it though because the developers will build the homes and naturally those who move in will rightly expect to use the local surgeries, schools and amenities.
"It's not just happening here though, this is played out across the country."
He has previously said general practice across the country was "in a state of crisis".
