Chislehurst library plan includes new medical centre

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

Two Chislehurst medical centres will merge into one huge new facility, local ward councillors have confirmed, under plans which include the rebuilding of Chislehurst Library.

Chislehurst Conservative councillor Suraj Sharma confirmed the move on his party’s website earlier this month, saying the larger facility would enable GPs to “provide a wider range of services” to the community such as audiology services, blood tests and counselling.

It’s the latest step forward for the project, and comes after Labour councillors called in the decision to approve the move at a meeting in October.

At that meeting, several Labour councillors expressed surprise the new library would be accompanied by a medical centre.

“I haven’t been following it closely but I was under the impression the development would involve a supermarket and flats,” Clock House ward member Ian Dunn said at that meeting.

He asked members to “imagine my surprise” when it was instead a scheme involving a medical centre which was backed.