AN ALTERNATIVE planning application for a new doctor’s surgery in Stow-on-the-Wold has been submitted to Cotswold District Council.

The Tall Trees site, which is located opposite Stow Vets differs from current development proposal at Maugersbury Road as it does not require enabling housing - as in expensive homes - to be built to fund the build.

The field is also closer to the centre of Stow and is a brown field site, lessening the impact on the environment.

The new surgery has been designed by local architect Andrew Eastabrook and conforms to NHS guidelines. It will include nine consulting rooms and 49 parking spaces with overflow parking too. There are fears that Stow could be left without a doctors' altogether as the current clinic, Stow Surgery, has recently been listed as "not fit for purpose" after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

However, this new land has been made available by local resident Jenny Scarsbrook, who became concerned that the housing element of the alternative gypsy field proposal would damage Stow’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status and set a dangerous precedent for future development on ‘greenfield’ sites in and around the town.

Since plans for a new surgery on the gypsy fair site at Stow were thrown out by CDC on April 8, angry residents have been up in arms. Nearly 200 people rallied together at the village green to share their views.

Jenny said: “I had become very concerned about the so called "enabling" development that is tied to the proposals for a surgery in the gypsy field and will see expensive, executive homes built on this AONB. With the developer retaining a further seven acres of the field, it’s likely that this initial phase of development is just the tip of the iceberg.

“Many local people in the town aren’t aware that executive housing is an integral part of the gypsy field scheme. When I tell them they’re horrified and are hugely supportive of my alternative plan.”

Architect Andrew Eastabrook added: "We have worked to create plans that conform to the NHS’s guidelines for the construction of a primary care facility. The new Tall Trees surgery will offer modern consulting rooms, purpose built admin and support space, disabled access, a spacious reception area and ample parking."