Founders of Pennygate Foundation health and wellbeing centre have taken a step to secure its long-term future and extend opening hours.
A planning application has been submitted by Dr Azmeena Nathu to allow the centre, beside her surgery, in Pennygate, Spalding, to become permanent, extend opening hours to 7.30am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm Sundays and retain a building that doesn’t currently have consent.
At least one neighbour has ongoing concerns about the proposal.
The latest application says: “The use is unique, and can only be provided by the Pennygate Foundation.”
It invites a unique type of permission to cover the centre, which runs a cafe as an informal access point to its diverse health and social services in a converted semi-detached home and outbuildings.
The centre launched in 2013 without planning consent and was granted temporary permission in 2014, which expires in October.
A further retrospective planning permission, for an additional building, was denied last year and South Holland District Council reported the “cafe and takeaway” had grown to a point amounting to a change of use.
There were five objectors to the latter retrospective application. Among them were Geoff Perkins (83) and wife Irene (80), of Mansell Close.
They remain upset that buildings are closer to their boundary than originally indicated, elevated fencing does not obscure them and a window looks out towards their property. They are also worried longer hours could lead to noise nuisance.
Mrs Perkins said: “Although they are doing a very good job and giving a good service, they are not giving their nearest neighbour any consideration.”
Brenda Wickham, joint centre founder, said she had tried to address the couple’s issues.
Numerous testimonials in support of the centre have been submitted with the latest application, more than one referring to it as a “lifeline”.
