Race to spend £270k for health facilities in Littlehampton before money is lost

They have just four months to ensure £273,000 of funding is earmarked for spending before the money has to be returned to developers.

The officials have promised to be ready to submit a planning application for the scheme by December 31.

But former GP Dr James Walsh – a town, district and county councillor – said the money must not be allowed to go to waste while the town’s residents suffered from a lack of suitable buildings.

He told Arun District Council’s overview select committee last Tuesday: “We have been promised since Littlehampton hospital was demolished six or seven years ago that we would have a replacement of its diagnostic facilities, its X-ray facilities, consulting rooms and outpatient facilities.

“Nothing, but nothing, has been decided and Littlehampton people, including myself, are fed up with being kept in the dark.

“That £273,000 has to be spent by next February. Time is fast running out. Is it absolutely certain that all the plans will be in place by the beginning of February, 2014 to ensure the deadline for not losing that money is met?”

For the full story, read this week’s Littlehampton Gazette, out from Thursday, October 24.