Residents' association folds after medical centre dispute

Members of the Brentwood Residents Association opposed plans for a medical centre on the site of tennis courts on their estate.

A number of letters were sent to Richmondshire District Council, saying the tennis courts were not an ideal site and urging the authority to consider alternatives.

The council delayed a final decision until an independent consultant had examined all the options, but subsequently approved the application from Trinity Medical Properties at the beginning of this month.

The planning department has since been criticised for the decision. However, some Brentwood residents were in favour of the application for the medical centre. Some wrote to the council to disassociate themselves from the association. A statement issued this week confirmed the society is to disband. Signed by Danny Kane, Digby Angus, Sarah Borman, George Dyson and Audrey Speakman, it states: "Recent unwarranted attacks upon individuals have created an intolerable situation. It is sad that free speech and opinion is attacked in our democracy, particularly when the association was born because of inadequate political representation.

"Some people may believe the construction of a medical centre for mid-Wensleydale on the tennis courts, eventually serving 11,000 patients, will benefit our community. We believe it is not, as it is not likely to result in much better facilities than we have at present.

"It is with regret that the committee has decided that it is now time to disband this association because of unreasonable outside pressures."

The Brentwood Residents Association was at the forefront of a battle with the district and county councils over traffic in the area.

At first, it demanded that Brentwood should remain a cul-de-sac, but then, when plans for more houses meant access to Wensleydale Avenue was opened, the focus of the campaign switched to objections to the speed humps the highways authority was suggesting.