Another aspect of the proposed hospital redevelopment which is concerning is the Government's increasing tendency to shut out the public on controversial issues:
"National Trust director Mr. Conway was critical of the way the plan had been settled without broad public input. The Trust wrote in July to the BHB calling for it to redevelop the existing site but had not received a response."
Government has kept the proposed Loughlands housing development and Special Development Order (SDO) secret from everyone, including area residents, and didn't respond to the National Trust's letter regarding the Hospital redevelopment.
That's not acceptable. That doesn't mean that they have to cave in, but another SDO is going to be needed for the hospital if they are going to build on parkland.
A generic dog and pony Sustainable Development show doesn't mean much if the overarching principles are discarded when it comes to the nitty gritty of new development. Cabinet are going to have to do some real heavy lifting to get support on this.
I remain in favour of a phased redevelopment of the current site.
The alternative, which sets a terrible precedent whereby parkland is fair game for new development, just makes me squirm.
It's hard to believe that in 10 years when a new hospital exists in the Botanical Gardens, and land is even more scarce, that whatever Government is in place isn't going to backtrack on the pledge to turn the old hospital site back over as parkland in favour of another 'very difficult choice'.
Leave the parkland alone.
