THE chairman of Whitchurch Patients’ Group has supported a letter from Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) warning of the risk of losing funding guarantees by delays to the Pauls Moss health and community hub project.

CCG head of primary care Steve Ellis has written to Shropshire Council’s planning department to remind them that £1m worth of funding will cease to exist after March 2021.

Plans have been submitted to Shropshire Council for the medical centre, community hub and accommodation for over-55s, but there has been strong oppositions to the plans from campaigners wishing to save Pauls Moss House from being knocked down to make away.

But Peggy Mullock, from Whitchurch Patients Group, says the current plan is the best option for the town.

“It would be a shame to lose this funding so close to the project,” said Mrs Mullock.

“I am grateful that Mr Ellis has written to Shropshire Council to warn of the potential risk any delays poses.

“At the same time, we know so many people have come out in defence of keeping the house intact as part of the plans.

“I applaud their work; however, we really do need to build facilities that best support the growing population of Whitchurch.

“The Patients Group will continue to represent best the needs of residents in the town and we think that is building the new medical centre.”

However, campaigner Paula Fraser, from Save Pauls Moss, said her group have come up with a way in which the house can be saved and is looking to work with stakeholders.

She added: “We’ve had a pre-application drawn up by a professional architect in London and it’s had the approval of Heritage Britain for the Pauls Moss site.

“The plan shows you can have a new medical centre, a community hub in Pauls Moss House and the 75 retirement flats too. We don’t want to cause the end of the medical centre.

“Our plan could cost more, to incorporate Pauls Moss House, but Wrekin Housing Trust have not shown the costings of a refurbishment.

“But we want to work with groups across the town, including the GPs and the Patients Group, so that a medical centre that is appropriate for a conservation area can be built.”