wymondham people are at last seeing a new doctors' surgery taking shape - three years after the project's inception.The present Windmill Surgery in Melton Road needed to expand to meet patient demand and enable better facilities.

wymondham people are at last seeing a new doctors' surgery taking shape - three years after the project's inception.

The present Windmill Surgery in Melton Road needed to expand to meet patient demand and enable better facilities. But a larger building was not viable on a restricted site for which outline planning consent for homes had been granted. This meant a new location close to the town centre with easy access for patients attending on foot, by cycle or by car had to be found.

South Norfolk Council's planning chairman, Martin Wynne, is delighted that work on the medical complex in London Road is now under way, having been involved in the project from the outset.

He said: 'I was a Wymondham councillor at the time as well as a South Norfolk councillor and was aware of the desperate local need for greater medical facilities to meet not only the present but also future demands of the growing town.

'I was aware that Wymondham Town Council owned part of the land and that South Norfolk Council owned the adjoining area close to the road. It made sense for both councils to work together to achieve such a worthwhile and needed facility.'

Derek Blake, cabinet member for planning, housing and the built environment in South Norfolk, said funding of the project was crucial at a difficult time. But, with the backing of NHS Norfolk and agreement being reached on a revised building design, an important outcome had been achieved. He added: 'This is a success story brought to fruition by councils working closely together in a positive and constructive way. Much-needed essential and beneficial facilities will now be provided, not just for the residents of Wymondham but for surrounding South Norfolk comm-unities and beyond.'

The decision to build the surgery also led to new allotments being provided.

Part of the land was used in the past for a few gardening plots, with the rest standing unkempt and badly over-grown. To gain government backing, alternative allotments had to be provided, which led to 57 new ones being made available in early 2008.

And Mr Wynne said the new allotment-holders had achieved fantastic results in just one season from their hard work.