MENDIP Vale Medical Group have confirmed that they will not be going ahead with plans to construct a new joint build for the Congresbury and Yatton surgeries.

These plans were submitted back before Covid, but have come to a standstill, leaving local people wondering what is going on.

One resident said: "Before Covid, Mendip Vale practice was looking to build a new joint build for the Congresbury and Yatton surgery, both of which are very old and not fit for purpose.

“They found a piece of land on Smallway for the new build. They got planning permission after objections from Yatton and Congresbury Parish Councils. We need the new surgeries for all the new houses that are going up in the area.

“By the time the permission went through, the funding had somehow disappeared. This was three years ago, the Congresbury surgery has never reopened.

“Planning permissions usually last five years, I just want to know what’s going on.”

The Congresbury surgery, which was used as a Covid hotspot centre and now remains closed, can be found on Station Road.

A spokesperson from Mendip Vale said: "Planning permission was not formally granted for Smallway as the practice was unable to confirm to planners that, should they grant permission we would have the funding from NHS England and the local Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucester (BNSSG) NHS Commissioners for the new development.

"As planning was not granted there is not valid planning permission for the building at Smallway. There are no plans, as the local NHS Commissioners are in a deficit position and will not provide funding.

"NHS England have delegated control to the local NHS Commissioners the BNSSG ICB. They hold funding for premises across the local Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucester area.

"Mendip Vale have spent in excess of £100,000 in attempting to gain funding and planning for a new surgery over the last 7 years for Yatton and Congresbury and share your views on the pressure from new developments that is placed on the surgeries."

For more information and details on how to get in contact with your nearest surgery, please visit the Mendip Vale Medical Group's website.