The news that Marks & Spencer are submitting a planning application to re-develop the Meteor Ford site has once again galvanised the people of Moseley to action. The future use of the site has been the single biggest issue to affect Moseley in almost a decade. Sometimes splitting families apart with some people believing it should be turned into a lovely park, others thinking it should be a massive community centre, nobody but us thinking it should be Tescos.
Since the news of Marks & Spencer’s plan came to light a petition has been created that as already gained over 5000 signatures. The petition, to be handed to planners, simply reads “Yes, that’s fine.”
This position is clearly inconsistent with the previous view of protesters that it was not the application by Tesco that was a problem but the whole idea of retail use. We asked the protesters to explain this change of heart, they told us “Yes, it’s true that it isn’t Waitrose but on the whole we feel M&S is just middle class enough. You might call me a hypocrite for supporting this but at the end of the day I’ll be a hypocrite eating a big Marks & Spencer pie and I won’t be known as the sort of person that shops in Tesco.”
We challenged them explain how the previously claimed congestion issue will change just because the retail premises is managed by someone else, their response was succinct “Congestion? Oh god we did say that didn’t we? LOL”
It has been known for almost a year that Marks and Spencers were the replacement retailer to Tesco’s. Indeed, they were supposed to sign the contract in mid-March this year.
All of this has been discussed by the Moseley Regeneration group, which in turn has been the source of this ‘open secret’. Both Moseley Forum and the Moseley Society have representatives on this group. Previously both groups led the protests against Tescos, with Moseley Forum creating a ‘Save our Village’ group to campaign against the Tesco’s. Their involvement with the Moseley Regeneration group and knowledge of Marks and Spencers involvement, most likely explains why both groups have not kicked up a fuss about the current planning application – a planning application to alter the delivery times and drop the commitment to the doctors surgery. Oh yes, are you aware of that? Moseley is sacrificing a sorely needed new medical centre, so as to attract a Marks and Spencers food hall. Condition 40 on the approved planning application that insisted the new medical centre a should be operating before the retail unit opens, is being completely dropped.
It is a sad day that Moseleyites have sacrificed the health of their children, grandchildren and elderly, in exchange for being able to purchase a Marks and Spencers ready meal on their doorstep
It’s unlikely that having a new health centre actually makes people any more healthy or unhealthy if they don’t have one. It does mean that people that work in the health centre will have a nice place to go to work.
Marks and Spencer’s pie are an empirical fact.
We do have a problem with our GP centres in Moseley as follows:
1) they are at full capacity, which means longer waits to see your GP.
2) they are in ageing converted residential properties, which means their layouts are not suitable for disabled people + they have treatment rooms that are not ideal in shape and size.
3) there is a question mark over the future of Moseley Medical Centre on Salisbury Road, where the GP is coming to retirement age. The new Meteor Ford site medical centre had enough capacity to absorb both Wake Green surgery and Moseley Medical Centre…..plus with additional space for extra GPs and treatment room services.
So, I do have to disagree that your view that “It’s unlikely that having a new health centre actually makes people any more healthy or unhealthy if they don’t have one.” – I think a new Moseley medical centre is desperately needed for the future health and wellbeing of Moseleyites.
It is entirely possible you’ve misunderstood why this site exists.
Oh no, he’s going ape-shit!!!
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