Doctors, nurses and patients have rallied together to fight plans for an office block in Westhill.
Medical Centres Scotland wants to build the two-storey development at Arnhall Business Park, next to the Skene Medical Group’s base.
But staff and patients claim the scheme would cause traffic congestion and parking problems – but more crucially, would prevent the future expansion of the health complex.
It also houses dental, social work and community health facilities.
Last night, Dr Colin Hunter, a partner at Skene Medical Group, said: “We’re trying to future-proof the building for our patients and putting an office here doesn’t make sense to us at all.
“If we project forward to the next five to 10 years, there will be no doubt we will need to expand the building.
“At the moment, if we need more dental facilities we can extend that wing out, if we need to expand nursing, we can expand that wing. An office development will take up the ground for that.”
When the medical practice was granted planning permission in 2003, the land at Discovery Drive was “earmarked” for its expansion in the future.
But now planners have recommended the office block project for approval, and argue that since it has been designed in keeping with the medical practice, it could be used as an extension if required.
However, in his letter of objection – one of 17 lodged with Aberdeenshire Council – Dr Hunter warns the joined facility may not “support the smooth running of the health and social care operation” in the future.
Practice manager Babs Thomson said health, social work and NHS dental services being under the one roof was a “real benefit” for the community and warned against stifling expansion, while practice nurse Melanie Benson raised fears that the extra parking required for the office block would “encroach” onto the spaces available for patients, particularly those who were elderly or disabled.
Patients have also raised concerns about parking and traffic congestion in the area, although the applicant does plan to erect fencing around their 22-space car park to discourage people from wrongly using the medical group’s spaces.
Members of the Garioch area committee will consider the proposals at their meeting in Inverurie next week.